Things To Consider When Conducting an Interview

Top Tips for Conducting Effective Interviews

Interviews are more than a series of questions. They are two-way conversations that help employers learn about candidates and help candidates understand potential employers. While finding the right hire can be challenging, you can run better interviews with the right approach and preparation.

Be Mindful of Time

Time management is crucial in any interview. Both the interviewer and candidate should feel comfortable and unrushed.

• Start and finish the interview at the agreed time.
• Allow candidates enough time to answer each question.
• Eliminate possible interruptions, such as email notifications, phone calls, or colleagues interrupting.

Respecting time helps lower stress for everyone and shows that you value the candidate’s presence. A focused interview process can boost positive impressions on both sides (HBR, 2015).

Build Rapport With Candidates

Building trust is key to getting honest answers and making candidates feel comfortable.

• Start with a warm greeting and introduce yourself.
• Share a bit about the company and the hiring process.
• Begin the conversation with easy questions, such as interests or background.
• Smile and maintain friendly eye contact.

When candidates feel welcomed, they are more open and honest in their answers. This helps you learn about their soft skills and personality.

Ask a Mix of Open and Closed Questions

Using both open and closed questions leads to a richer interview.

• Closed questions: Direct and short, such as "Have you used Excel before?"
• Open questions: Invite detail, such as "Tell me about a time you solved a tough problem."

Closed questions quickly assess skills or experience. Open questions show how a person thinks, communicates, and approaches work.

• Follow a closed question with an open one. For example, "Have you used Excel?" If yes, "How did you use it in your last job?"

Research shows that open-ended questions encourage deeper responses and provide better insights into a candidate's suitability (NIH, 2015).

Prepare Follow-Up Questions

Good interviewers go beyond the surface. Being ready with follow-up questions is essential.

• Think about questions you could ask based on likely answers before the interview starts.
• Use follow-ups to probe for details or clarify unclear points.
• Mix open and closed questions when following up.

Prepared follow-up questions help reveal whether someone’s answers are thoughtful, genuine, and grounded in real experience.

Let Candidates Ask Their Own Questions

Interviews should go both ways. Encouraging candidates to ask questions lets you gauge interest and see how much they want the job.

• Set time aside near the end of the interview for candidate questions.
• Listen to the questions they ask—they may reveal how much research or thought they’ve put into the opportunity.
• Give honest, helpful answers.

Candidates who ask well-prepared questions tend to be more serious about the role and the company.

Conclude the Interview Effectively

Ending the interview well leaves a strong impression and shows respect for the candidate.

• Thank them for their time and interest.
• Share a timeline for your decision-making process.
• Be clear about when and how you will contact them regarding the next steps.

Providing a clear timeline helps reduce candidate anxiety and maintains a positive experience, which can improve your company’s reputation.

Best Practices for Interview Documentation

Keeping good records of interviews ensures fairness and accuracy.

• Consider recording interviews (with consent) for review and quality control.
• Use professional transcription services to capture conversations without missing details.
• Transcriptions make it easier to compare candidates and share feedback with hiring teams.
• For recurring needs, explore AI transcription subscriptions for efficiency.

Transcripts can also help comply with HR policies and legal requirements, especially for high-volume or regulated hiring processes.

Conclusion: Make Every Interview Count

Remember, each interview is a chance to change someone’s life and find your next great team member. With strong preparation, clear communication, and fair processes, you gain the insight needed to make better hires—and help candidates shine.

GoTranscript supports hiring teams with transcription services, automated transcription, and transcription proofreading. These solutions help you document interviews, review responses, and improve hiring decisions with accuracy and ease. Explore our affordable pricing and order your next interview transcription today.