If the last update your organization made to its interview process was the introduction of online interviews back in 2020, then it may be time to revisit your plan!
Organizations that are thriving in today’s competitive talent market are trying new and different ways to engage with candidates during the interview process – online and in person. Here are three tips for reinvigorating your interview process from the executive search experts at DRiWaterstone:
- Lead with culture. This starts with talking about culture on your careers page and in your job descriptions. Let candidates know up front what to expect when working with your organization and then demonstrate this in your interview process. If you say your culture is transparent and trust-based, how do you demonstrate that in the interview process? If you’re focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, make sure your interview panel reflects that. Leading with culture gives candidates a picture of what they can expect if they join the team – and it gives you a chance to assess their behaviors against your culture pillars too.
- Send candidates (some of) your questions in advance. This is a great way to help put candidates at ease and to offer a more inclusive interview experience – one that accommodates a greater variety of personalities and styles and allows candidates to put their best foot forward. You’ll get more useful information out of a prepared candidate than someone fighting nerves, and follow up questions and small talk still leave room to dive deeper on key points and get to know how the candidate aligns to your purpose and culture. Need more convincing? See this article from LinkedIn.
- Try an immersive experience. This is an opportunity to observe the day-to-day reality of the job, meet and interact with the team, and get a hands-on sense for whether this is a good fit – for both the candidate and the employer. Consider having your top candidate spend some time in the office, give them the opportunity to talk to other employees about the organization and the role, ask them to join a team social event, reserve them a spot at a company-hosted event, or hold an interview in an unconventional location (e.g., a walking interview at your local park). Not only does this give candidates an inside view of your organization and your culture, it lets you see how they react in different situations, how they adapt to new challenges, and how they fit with your company culture.
Need more help taking your interview process to the next level? The executive search experts at DRiWaterstone Human Capital can help. Click to book a meeting and learn more about how we help leading non-profit and social impact organizations across the U.S. find and retain top talent.
