| I watched some of the confirmation hearings of Judge | | | | like the person, everything after that just reinforces the |
| Samuel Alito before the Senate in years past and it did | | | | initial impression. Many times, job candidates pay a |
| not take long before I found myself yelling at the | | | | compliment to the interviewer, the office, the |
| television for the Senators to "just ask the question!" | | | | organization or something that distracts the interviewer |
| Of course that didn't last too long because my wife | | | | and gets the whole process off track. Don't take the |
| was quick to point out to me that she was the only | | | | bait. Politely thank them and then return to the |
| one hearing my frustrations. | | | | prepared list of questions that are asked of every |
| If I had to grade the Senators' interviewing skills during | | | | candidate for a particular job. If the candidate attempts |
| this hearing process, I would had given most of them | | | | to 'hijack' the interview by coming to it well prepared |
| an 'F' because 13 out of 15 of them spoke longer than | | | | with their own list of questions, make them wait until |
| the job candidate. I think their goal was to impress the | | | | you have gotten what you need from them and then |
| public with their knowledgeable elocution rather than | | | | let them ask what they wish. |
| finding out about Judge Alito's qualifications and beliefs. | | | | Remember, a lot can be learned about a potential |
| That is the most common mistake made by | | | | candidate by just letting them talk. And, the interviewer |
| interviewers--speaking more than the job candidate. | | | | also needs to remember that there are many people |
| Often, the candidate leaves the interview knowing a lot | | | | who are much better at 'selling themselves' than they |
| about the interviewer and the organization but the | | | | are at 'delivering the goods'. So the interviewer needs |
| reverse is not true. Often the interviewer ends up | | | | to develop good listening skills to pick up on subtle |
| rating the candidate highly when, in fact, they are | | | | clues provided by the candidate about how he or she |
| judging how well they listened to the interviewer rather | | | | truly behaves. |
| than having learned anything about the candidate. | | | | "Well done is better than well said. |
| As an interviewer, if your first impression is that you | | | | |