Course Overview

Any organization gets to experience the taste of success due to its dedicated workforce. Only with competent and committed staff can a company hope to meet its objectives and realise its long-term vision promptly. However, in the modern day, it has become more difficult for recruiters to filter and identify suitable fits for their firm due to the convenience with which applicants may submit their resumes and the increased number of positions to which they can apply. The interviewer has a decisive influence in the selection of the final applicant for the employment position. The interviewer is the unit that initially meets the applicants. They are the ones who can acquire insight into the candidate’s ability and willingness to work via the use of appropriate questions and thoughtful dialogue. This makes the role of the interviewer very important.

What is the rationale for doing interviews? Interviews are an integral part of the employment selection process. The interview, if conducted correctly, allows the employer to assess if the applicant’s abilities, experience, and personality match the job’s criteria. It also aids the employer in determining if a candidate would fit into the company’s culture. Moreover, organising an interview will define the obligations of a job. If the interview process results in the employment of the best-qualified applicant, it will assist the firm to reduce its long-term turnover costs.

What are the many forms of biases that the interviewer must avoid while conducting interviews? Bias in interviews is when the interviewer makes unwarranted conclusions about the applicant. Such prejudices might affect the interview. Both the halo effect and reverse halo effect are vital to know. This is when a hiring manager makes an impression about a candidate based on a single trait. When candidates are compared, “contrast prejudice” occurs. It may create the appearance that one candidate is superior, while, the advantage is relative. Gut feeling bias occurs when an interviewer focuses exclusively on his or her first impression of an applicant. Interviewers demonstrate approbation of a candidate’s response by smiling and nodding leading to nonverbal behaviour bias. A similar-to-me bias occurs when a hiring manager favours an applicant with comparable attributes. Finally, recency bias arises when an interviewer remembers the most recently interviewed applicants better than the rest.

The Professional Interviewer Training Course has been developed by Zoe Talent Solutions in response to the need for producing professional interviewers as a solution to increased turnover costs and inefficiencies. The training emphasises the essential qualities an interviewer must cultivate to be successful over the long term in the profession. Current and potential interviewers will get practical experience as part of the training. Find out how to make smarter decisions by learning about the various forms of interviews and the most often-asked questions in interviews. Our simulated interviews with professionals in your field can help you prepare for any professional circumstance. Learn to navigate the various obstacles and prejudices. Find out what goes into a normal day as an interviewer so you can start working toward being the asset your company needs.

Course Objectives

The Professional Interviewer Training Course by Zoe Talent Solutions aims:

• To discover the most effective methods to gain insight into the candidate
• To effectively gather information from the applicant that is relevant to the position but not publicly accessible
• To discover different types of interviews and ways of structuring them
• To identify cultural challenges that an interviewer may come across during the process
• To learn about various situational issues an interviewer may encounter and ways to handle them
• To understand different ways of assessment of the candidate’s character and motivation for the position
• To develop the necessary communication skills to make sure there’s a mutual understanding between the organization and the candidate
• To discover the best methods to find the best fit for the organization

Training Methodology

The Professional Interviewer Training course involves the following methodologies:

• Interactive sessions by industry experts
• Presentations and Case Studies
• Problem-solving and discussions
• Role-playing and business simulation

Like all training courses of Zoe Talent Solutions, this course also utilizes the ‘Do-Review-Learn-Apply’ methodology.

Organisational Benefits

The Professional Interviewer Training Course by Zoe Talent Solutions will benefit an organization by:

• Better assessing a potential employee’s compatibility with the company’s values and work style
• Facilitating a more pleasant interview experience for both parties
• Finding out what the training needs of the applicant by analysing their strengths and weaknesses
• Improving in company’s reputation among potential employees
• Gaining a better understanding of current labour market circumstances and trends
• Bringing the organisation closer to potential employees

Personal Benefits

The Professional Interviewer Training Course by Zoe Talent Solutions aims to benefit the participants in the following ways:

• Learn to prepare better for the interview and come across as professional as well as organized
• Discover your biases and avoid them from clouding your judgement
• Develop the confidence to go off-the script
• Recognize how interviewing differs for crucial positions
• Develop and enhance existing communication and conversational skills
• Learn the art of icebreaking
• Ensure the ability to control emotions
• Master the art of conducting interviews and watch as companies flock to you for help filling available jobs

Who Should Attend?

It is common for professionals to conduct interviews as part of their supplementary job responsibilities. In this sense the training course is suitable for many:

• Senior Executives and Managers
• HR professionals and managers
• Departmental Heads
• Research analysts and Data collectors
• Team leaders and Project managers
• Entrepreneurs

Course Outline

Module 1: Essentials to Successful Interviewing 

• Why it matters
• Significance of the interview in making a good hiring decision
• The hiring processes
• The interview processes
• How has interviewing evolved in the last few decades
• Why make the interviewee feel comfortable
• Maintaining legal caution

Module 2: Preparing for the Interview

• Understanding the job description of the open position
• Understand the type of candidate the organization is looking for
• Selecting the type of interview
• Structuring the interview
• Interview questions according to the candidate

Module 3: Selection Aids for Interview

• Presentations
• Questionnaires
• Aptitude tests
• Work-samples
• Using in-tray exercises
• Assessment centres
• Choosing the best selection aid

Module 4: Phases of the Interview

• Setting up the tone
• Making introductions and establishing connections
• Discussing the CV
• Discussing the competencies
• Sell your organization
• Discussing salary expectations

Module 5: Types of Interviews

• Structured and unstructured interview
• Traditional interviews
• Technical interview
• Telephonic interviews
• Conducting online interviews
• Panel interviews
• Focus Group interview
• Competency-based interviewing

Module 6: Interview Notes

• What are interview notes?
• Why is taking interview notes necessary?
• How to take interview notes?

Module 7: Necessary Skills for a Professional Interviewer

• Emotional intelligence
• How to maintain a friendly demeanour but avoid being over-friendly
• Conversational skills
• Communication skills
• Domain knowledge
• People management

Module 8: Types of Interview Questions

• Introductory questions
• Behavioural questions
• Situational questions
• Stress interview
• Leadership questions
• Testing the domain knowledge
• Testing the emotional intelligence
• Follow-up questions

Module 9: Challenges in an Interview

• Challenge of online interview
• Interview during covid
• Identifying biases
• Handling tricky situations
• Interview fatigue