Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Interviewing and Hiring

Hiring Right the First Time

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Overview of Training

• What to look for on an application• First impressions go both ways• Body Language – what do we convey• Review of Interview documents• Questions you can ask• Illegal questions• Practice makes perfect

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Interviewing…..• Asking questions designed to uncover how

well persons have demonstrated competencies you are looking for and how they will demonstrate them for our company…..

• Careful questioning can reveal values and motivations of the persons interviewed so you can determine if they have the attitude that will fit in our organization…

• Anyone can tell you they know how to drive a forklift, but how many times they ran into the wall is more important….

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Interviewing….

Experience does not equal Experience does not equal accomplishmentaccomplishment

Education does not equal Education does not equal CompetencyCompetency

Given responsibility does not Given responsibility does not equal Positive Resultsequal Positive Results

When they tell you what they did, don’t assume it was done well.

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

The application• Take the time to review the entire

application• What is your gut feeling about the

application• Review work history closely

– Gaps in history– Dates employment was retained– Reason for separation

• Education level completed• References listed• Signed in all necessary spots• Felony on record• Do NOT write anything on the application

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

First Impressions

• Hygiene – hair, nails, clothing• Dress – appropriate for job interview• Smile – natural or strained• Eye contact – meeting with your eyes or

downcast• Speech – professional, not rushed• Confidence level• Body language

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Body Language Basics

• Eye contact• Smile• Handshake• Posture when walking• Posture when sitting• Position of arms• Position of hands• Position of legs

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

During the Interview

• Pay attention to body language• Maintain eye contact• Interviewee should be using “I”

statements• Use the SOAR method to get the best

answer;– Situation that occurred– Objective trying to meet– Action that I took– Result of my decision

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Questions you can ask• Start with generic ‘get to know you’

questions– What have you accomplished in the past

that makes you uniquely qualified for the position?

• Keep questions open ended– Tell me about a time when…– What were you trying to accomplish when…– Give me an example of…

• Look for positive and negative results to show how well they will perform, how well they react to mistakes, and if they take accountability for mistakes

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Questions you can Ask• Use probes – follow up on questions to get more

specific information as well as to uncover the values and work ethics of the candidate– Why- why is important, why you chose that

method– How - How did customer react– When -When did this happen– Where -Where was supervisor during

occurrance– Who- Who was involved– What- What did you learn from situation– Tell me more– Give me an example– Lead me through that process

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Illegal questions• Questions should be job-related, potential

employers should never use questions to find personal information

• Cannot ask about health issues or previous workplace accidents

• Cannot ask about the following and cannot be considered as a condition of employment;– Race– Color– Gender– Religion– National Origin– Birthplace– Age– Disability– Marital/family status

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

Unusual Questions

• Trying to catch a glimpse of candidate in an unrehearsed, unguarded moment

• Reveals how someone thinks, how well they think on their feet

• Don’t have right or wrong questions• Gives opportunity for creativity, humor,

and showing poise when caught off guard

Underground Vaults & Storage, Inc.

06/2009

PracticeMakesPerfect