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The do’s and don’ts of hiring

You have probably been interviewed for a job, but have you ever interviewed someone? Or hired an employee for your business? If not, this article will give you some good advice on what to do and not do.

We have gathered a wide selection of relevant do’s and don’ts in terms of hiring the right people for your new company. Naturally, some advice will seem more relevant than others depending on the type of business you’re in. But, we like to think, that the advice can be implemented across everything from a hairdresser or a café to a tech startup or a webshop. 

The do’s and don’ts have been divided in 2 sections:

-The Interviewer

-The Interview

The Interviewer

  • Do stick to the law and be certain to know what you can and cannot legally ask about in an interview.
  • Do come well prepared for the interview, so that you can focus on asking the right questions and the person’s attitude.
  • Do know exactly what skills, competences and personality you are looking for.
  • Don’t change your approach from interview to interview – stick to one system to compare candidates fairly.

The Interview

  • Do interview in groups whenever possible – bring along someone whose opinion you value.
  • Do keep it as casual as possible, since interviews are already a terribly awkward and formal affair.
  • Do test the person’s real-world skills by having him/her perform a task or solve a problem relevant to the job.
  • Don’t have the person’s papers or a computer in front of you – no papers foster a more relaxed conversation.
  • Don’t ask if you can check references. Just do so - but be so kind not to reach out to the candidate’s current employer. Remain objective and avoid involving the candidate.
  • Don’t hurry through an interview, take your time, ask twice and get all the answers you need.

The Key Questions

Last, but not least, we would like to give you some advice to a set of questions that might help you find the right sort of employee for the right sort of job.

  • What has been your best team experience?
  • What have been your biggest wins? And biggest losses?
  • Is it important to you to be part of a team? Why or why not?
  • How coachable are you? And what skills would you like to improve?
  • What kind of environment/culture do you thrive in?

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