I have been in more interviews than I can to count. On both sides of the table. In those encounters I have asked/been asked some really challenging questions, and some that are just insulting to my intelligence and those across the table. In the past few weeks I have resolved to stop answering these rout, mindless questions in applications and have recrafted my answers for interviews. If the question comes up in an application, I simply stop the application. If the interviewer doesn't like my answers in the interview, they're free to hire someone else. Frankly, I am going to have second thoughts about working for someone who can't come up with some better questions. And, my goal is to never ask them again as the interviewer
First off, don't trap people. My last employer once giggled with glee about "being obnoxious" in an interview for a Children's Librarian position that required a demonstration. Sure, kids might get a little out of hand, but SHE IS AN ADULT. Looking forward to being obnoxious said a lot about her, and the way she operated her branch. Keen interviewees will pick up on that. I know I certainly had my reservations, and foolishly still took the job. What good does that do? "Gotchya" isn't a way to make progress and will stifle creativity. As the interviewer, asking trapping questions only shows that you re going to be a pain in the ass as boss and you humanity needs questioning.
Secondly, stop asking questions beneath the person's ability. If they have advanced degrees, or tons of experience, don't ask them basic questions about the job! "Tell us about a time you offered excellent customer service" is in my crosshairs here. Every...single...interview I have ever been in within the library profession (on both sides of the table, for every level of the organizational chart) has included this question in one form or another. If the person has been working in libraries for ANY amount of time, they are going to know how to interact with patrons. If the person has been in leadership, and/or has any form of degree, they are going to have basic computer skills. Don't ask them to pass a basic computer skills test. Asking stupid, that's right stupid, questions like this and lauding good answers isn't going to get you the kind of people you want for your job. At least not in my opinion. Ask smart questions, at the level for the position, and you are going to get the right person.
Also, make the interview fit the position. If the job is part time, a 35 question interrogation is overkill. Interviewing for the director of the library? Expect something more than a 15 minute tour of the old chestnuts. I once sat through an interview for a part time position that took 2 hours. That's two hours of my life I cannot get back, and we did not hire the person. Sure there is that old adage "Would you want to sit with this person on a delayed flight?" which is valid, but think about who much you are really going to be around the person. And if you are unable to read the person if 10 to 15 minutes, that is on you. I've sat next to people on delayed flights before and figured out PDQ they were or were not ready to chat.
Finally, if you are going to have multiple parts to the interview, with multiple groups of people, don't ask the same questions in both groups. Do a little coordinating between the groups before the interview and make sure there isn't an duplication. Asking the same questions twice takes up time, brainpower of the interviewee and does not produce different results. A sharp interviewee will refer to answering the question the first time, and move on. In a lot of ways, it's the same thing as asking trapping questions. Hoping you are going to get a different answer.
The interview is going to say a lot about the employee but it also tells the potential employee about the company. A bad interview is going to be a drag for both parties. At the very least you are going to waste time, and force you to hear/ give the same dull answers. At worst, it is going to piss off one or both of the parties in the interview, and tip your hand more than you want. It is understood you are trying to make a smart choice and mistakes are bound to happen with even the best on both sides of the table. Still stop with the old, dull, uninventive process. Otherwise you are going to get the same dull, uninventive people. Unless that is what you want, and if that's what you are after....good luck
Comments
Post a Comment