Interview: The importance of knowing what I'm looking for

There’s no doubt about the importance of the communication; either verbal or nonverbal. One way to have a communicative process is the interview. This is an easy way to get  information you need from other person.

It's important to ask yourself: What do I want to know?
​
From this question you can develop a strong starting point for process of the interview, wich is so important because you need to keep in mind what type of interview you will do: structured,  semistructured, o totally open, you always have to think in the same flow of the type of interview that you chose. it’s also higly relevant to know about the subject that you will talk about with the interviewed; we don’t have any way of knowing if the interview could have a spin and can turn in something we didn't plan, and we have to improvise.

It's also important is to make the interviewed feel comfortable, make him feel like he's talking to just anyone else, and not beomg judged or attacked. Inorder to make the other individual  grow his confidence, we need to employ a procces known as rapport, wich is the stablishment of certain level of confidence by doing small talk about general subjects. We have to do this process in different ways because every person is different, we have to avoid the prejudices at all costs and give time to the interviewed to express his knowledge and feelings. This can make the interviewed feel less nervous, and then you can have a open conversation.
​
Tips for a good interview:

Be punctual:

This is the principal advice for an interview: we have to be responsible  with our time, to schedule the day and the time we have to respect the date and the hour, because, if not doing so, both you and the interviewed could use that spare time in other activities.

The outfit:

The outfit has to be appropriate, given the context of the interview; this is why you have to be Concorde at the context and place.

Duration:

The time for the interview has to be agreed by everyone involved; this is a great way to be prepared for the interview and schedule the date.

Ask yourself what do you want to know from the interviewed:

In this step is where the interview grows, for is in this step when you will adapt the questions or the format of the interview to obtain what you're looking for.

Know about the subject:

We have to know about the subject we are going to talk in the interview, this will help the flow of the interview, so it can be mutual, and have a natural feeling, and not that of an interrogation.

Make the interviewed feel comfortable:

You can praise the other person to make him more trustful, and this will make him or her express more, giving us us more information. ​

Adapt the context for the interview:

It’s important to make a very comfortable space for the other person. The interview has to be in a place where it’s warm or at good temperature, make the place comfortable, in silence or with as little noise as possible, and with some confidentiality, so the interviewed can feel comfortable.

Manage the interview:

You need to be in control of the interview, not the interviewed, so you can have the answers you're looking for.

The interview is a great tool if you know how to use it properly, with it, you can obtain very important information and this counts in every aspect in life, from the first approach to someone, to finding a great job, even when you're looking for a couple, you have to interview the other person to know if she/he is the right one, there’s no doubt that we have interviews every day, and if you know how to use them, you have a great advantage.

---

Erick Juarez
​IT Recruiter Jr