The last thing you want is an awkward conversation. Especially in a 30 minute job interview.
As a manager or recruiter you want to put the applicant at ease, but who says you are not nervous for the interview? A tense atmosphere is not ideal when you want to learn more about someone’s personality or qualities.
Also read: 7 ways you’re sending the wrong message with your body language.
Good preparation is therefore key. For the applicant, but also for you. Therefore, make a good questionnaire that you can fall back on and especially think about an opening question.
“During the first phase, use a number of light-hearted questions that make the candidate feel at ease,” advises recruitment guru Gusta Timmermans, who wrote the book 199 questions for a successful selection interview .
Also read: 6 things Efteling does to encourage employees and visitors to come by bicycle or e-bike.
Below is a selection of the best questions from Timmermans’ book to kickstart the selection interview.