that you are looking for someone who will not only be able to do a good job, they also have to be happy within your company. A happy employee is one who will work hard and be dedicated to their role and to you. Assuring that they feel welcome and that you show you represent a caring business will go a long way towards a candidate coming out of their shell, demonstrating their skills and suitability, and towards a smooth and pleasant interview.

If your candidate freezes up, it is not only a waste of their time, but also of yours. And you could miss out on someone who would actually be perfect for the job.

Many people are fine once they start working somewhere. Someone might have all the relevant skills and experience and could be a great asset to your company... if only they could truly show their worth at the interview. And that is where you

Recruitment is a delicate and complicated procedure. You have to find the ideal candidate for the vacancy within your company, and the candidate will have to find out if your company is the right one for them. Perhaps the most stressful part of recruitment is the interview – many candidates will be stressed and anxious, which does not make your job any easier. Though it is near impossible to eliminate all the stress, there are ways to make the interview stage a more fruitful and enjoyable experience for both sides.

Offer Refreshment

Offer the candidate a drink. Either the choice between coffee and tea, a glass of water, or, if possible, add the option of cold drinks. This may seem obvious, but I was surprised to find that many companies do not think of offering the candidates a refreshment.

A drink helps against a dry mouth caused by stress and gives very nervous candidates something to do with their hands and to shift their focus on when needing to calm themselves down for a moment. It also gives a good impression of your company – it is a sign that you care about your employees and create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.

Clothes Don't Make the Candidate

It is common knowledge that one has to dress well to make a good impression on the interview panel. Though this makes sense in many ways, it can add to the overall stress of the situation. Some of your applicants might have been out of employment for a little while, and won't have the means to buy a suitable outfit for a job interview. This doesn't necessarily mean that they will be unsuitable for the position they are applying for.

It is more important that their outfit, and their overall appearance, is clean and tidy, than whether or not they wear a business suit. Especially if the position they are applying for does not require them to dress as such. If your company's dress-code does require this, it can be brought up during the interview and you can enquire if they will be able to comply. If they are unable to, and your company offers a training programme, this would be an excellent time period for your candidate to raise the funds needed to add to their wardrobe.

Either way, it will help to not give the impression, when meeting a candidate, that they are judged on their outfit.

A Bit of Time and Understanding

Over the years, I have found that the questions raised by interview panels have changed. A common question nowadays is “describe a difficult situation and what you did to solve it”. However well-prepared a candidate is, if they are very anxious it might be that they find it very difficult to outline such a situation and their role in the positive outcome.

It could be worthwhile to add such questions to the application form – this gives the candidate time to think on their answers. Alternatively, it helps to reassure the candidate at the start of the interview that they can take their time formulating their answers, and can request to come back to a specific question later on in the interview.

Be Friendly and Welcoming

A lot can depend on how friendly and welcoming the panel comes across. If a panel comes across as distant, cold and intimidating, this will not help in any way to put the candidate at ease. If the panel is warm and friendly, this can quickly break the ice and dissolve a lot of the tension and anxiety.

It is worth remembering that you are looking for someone who will not only be able to do a good job, they also have to be happy within your company. A happy employee is one who will work hard and be dedicated to their role and to you. Assuring that they feel welcome and that you show you represent a caring business will go a long way towards a candidate coming out of their shell, demonstrating their skills and suitability, and towards a smooth and pleasant interview.

If your candidate freezes up, it is not only a waste of their time, but also of yours. And you could miss out on someone who would actually be perfect for the job.

Many people are fine once they start working somewhere. Someone might have all the relevant skills and experience and could be a great asset to your company... if only they could truly show their worth at the interview. And that is where you c

by stress and gives very nervous candidates something to do with their hands and to shift their focus on when needing to calm themselves down for a moment. It also gives a good impression of your company – it is a sign that you care about your employees and create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.

Clothes Don't Make the Candidate

It is common knowledge that one has to dress well to make a good impression on the interview panel. Though this makes sense in many ways, it can add to the overall stress of the situation. Some of your applicants might have been out of employment for a little while, and won't have the means to buy a suitable outfit for a job interview. This doesn't necessarily mean that they will be unsuitable for the position they are applying for.

It is more important that their outfit, and their overall appearance, is clean and tidy, than whether or not they wear a business suit. Especially if the position they are applying for does not require them to dress as such. If your company's dress-code does require this, it can be brought up during the interview and you can enquire if they will be able to comply. If they are unable to, and your company offers a training programme, this would be an excellent time period for your candidate to raise the funds needed to add to their wardrobe.

Either way, it will help to not give the impression, when meeting a candidate, that they are judged on their outfit.

A Bit of Time and Understanding

Over the years, I have found that the questions raised by interview panels have changed. A common question nowadays is “describe a difficult situation and what you did to solve it”. However well-prepared a candidate is, if they are very anxious it might be that they find it very difficult to outline such a situation and their role in the positive outcome.

It could be worthwhile to add such questions to the application form – this gives the candidate time to think on their answers. Alternatively, it helps to reassure the candidate at the start of the interview that they can take their time formulating their answers, and can request to come back to a specific question later on in the interview.

Be Friendly and Welcoming

A lot can depend on how friendly and welcoming the panel comes across. If a panel comes across as distant, cold and intimidating, this will not help in any way to put the candidate at ease. If the panel is warm and friendly, this can quickly break the ice and dissolve a lot of the tension and anxiety.

It is worth remembering that you are looking for someone who will not only be able to do a good job, they also have to be happy within your company. A happy employee is one who will work hard and be dedicated to their role and to you. Assuring that they feel welcome and that you show you represent a caring business will go a long way towards a candidate coming out of their shell, demonstrating their skills and suitability, and towards a smooth and pleasant interview.

If your candidate freezes up, it is not only a waste of their time, but also of yours. And you could miss out on someone who would actually be perfect for the job.

Many people are fine once they start working somewhere. Someone might have all the relevant skills and experience and could be a great asset to your company... if only they could truly show their worth at the interview. And that is where you

is clean and tidy, than whether or not they wear a business suit. Especially if the position they are applying for does not require them to dress as such. If your company's dress-code does require this, it can be brought up during the interview and you can enquire if they will be able to comply. If they are unable to, and your company offers a training programme, this would be an excellent time period for your candidate to raise the funds needed to add to their wardrobe.

Either way, it will help to not give the impression, when meeting a candidate, that they are judged on their outfit.

A Bit of Time and Understanding

Over the years, I have found that the questions raised by interview panels have changed. A common question nowadays is “describe a difficult situation and what you did to solve it”. However well-prepared a candidate is, if they are very anxious it might be that they find it very difficult to outline such a situation and their role in the positive outcome.

It could be worthwhile to add such questions to the application form – this gives the candidate time to think on their answers. Alternatively, it helps to reassure the candidate at the start of the interview that they can take their time formulating their answers, and can request to come back to a specific question later on in the interview.

Be Friendly and Welcoming

A lot can depend on how friendly and welcoming the panel comes across. If a panel comes across as distant, cold and intimidating, this will not help in any way to put the candidate at ease. If the panel is warm and friendly, this can quickly break the ice and dissolve a lot of the tension and anxiety.

It is worth remembering that you are looking for someone who will not only be able to do a good job, they also have to be happy within your company. A happy employee is one who will work hard and be dedicated to their role and to you. Assuring that they feel welcome and that you show you represent a caring business will go a long way towards a candidate coming out of their shell, demonstrating their skills and suitability, and towards a smooth and pleasant interview.

If your candidate freezes up, it is not only a waste of their time, but also of yours. And you could miss out on someone who would actually be perfect for the job.

Many people are fine once they start working somewhere. Someone might have all the relevant skills and experience and could be a great asset to your company... if only they could truly show their worth at the interview. And that is where you

s, if they are very anxious it might be that they find it very difficult to outline such a situation and their role in the positive outcome.

It could be worthwhile to add such questions to the application form – this gives the candidate time to think on their answers. Alternatively, it helps to reassure the candidate at the start of the interview that they can take their time formulating their answers, and can request to come back to a specific question later on in the interview.

Be Friendly and Welcoming

A lot can depend on how friendly and welcoming the panel comes across. If a panel comes across as distant, cold and intimidating, this will not help in any way to put the candidate at ease. If the panel is warm and friendly, this can quickly break the ice and dissolve a lot of the tension and anxiety.

It is worth remembering that you are looking for someone who will not only be able to do a good job, they also have to be happy within your company. A happy employee is one who will work hard and be dedicated to their role and to you. Assuring that they feel welcome and that you show you represent a caring business will go a long way towards a candidate coming out of their shell, demonstrating their skills and suitability, and towards a smooth and pleasant interview.

If your candidate freezes up, it is not only a waste of their time, but also of yours. And you could miss out on someone who would actually be perfect for the job.

Many people are fine once they start working somewhere. Someone might have all the relevant skills and experience and could be a great asset to your company... if only they could truly show their worth at the interview. And that is where you

that you are looking for someone who will not only be able to do a good job, they also have to be happy within your company. A happy employee is one who will work hard and be dedicated to their role and to you. Assuring that they feel welcome and that you show you represent a caring business will go a long way towards a candidate coming out of their shell, demonstrating their skills and suitability, and towards a smooth and pleasant interview.

If your candidate freezes up, it is not only a waste of their time, but also of yours. And you could miss out on someone who would actually be perfect for the job.

Many people are fine once they start working somewhere. Someone might have all the relevant skills and experience and could be a great asset to your company... if only they could truly show their worth at the interview. And that is where you can help to make them feel more at ease.