| Listening - Interviewing Using Mind and Ears | | | | effort? He was the low man on the totem pole and |
| Do you hear what she said? Or what she meant? Or | | | | essentially a gopher? Interviewers have a tendency to |
| is your mind on the next question you want to ask? | | | | accept the response at face value... interpreting " |
| Listening is the difference between hearing and | | | | worked on a project with 5 other engineers" based on |
| understanding - a key element in employee selection. | | | | their personal interpretation. |
| Preparing for an interview is an essential component. | | | | When in doubt, be a gentle bulldog. Ask for clarification... |
| You have studiously reviewed the candidate's resume, | | | | It's OK to repeat a question... being confident in your |
| made certain you know the aspects of the position | | | | own skin to request information until you obtain the |
| which are key to success, perused the results of the | | | | information you want through active listening is a |
| Profile XT so you have a handle on the candidate's | | | | strength. It also communicates to the candidate that |
| abilities and behavioral traits as relates to the position, | | | | you are interested in what they have to say. |
| and prepared your list of sequential interviewing | | | | Listening is so important that I recommend to clients |
| questions. | | | | that they role play. With several employees present, |
| Ready, set, go. Now you are in seated across the | | | | ask a willing volunteer a question which would be |
| table from the candidate. You say "tell me about your | | | | important in the interviewing process ( a nonthreatening |
| accomplishments as a mechanical engineer". What are | | | | question -this is a learning exercise). A feeling, |
| you looking for in this question? Are you seeking a | | | | information question is useful as compared to one |
| litany of problems solved, machines invented? | | | | which elicits a list or dry facts. An example would be: |
| Or are you looking for the candidate's sense of | | | | "Tell us about a time when you exceeded your |
| teamwork? How their accomplishments are | | | | personal expectations". Then, compare notes with your |
| interrelated with the contributions of others? The | | | | colleagues -what was communicated to you that the |
| answer comes through "active" listening. Yes, by | | | | volunteer was passionate about? What were they |
| engaging your focus antennae on the words/phrases | | | | communicating? |
| used, points of emphasis by the candidate, and paying | | | | Compare your observations with that of the volunteer: |
| attention to the words behind the words. For example: | | | | How close do your observations compare with what |
| The candidate says he worked on a project with 5 | | | | they intended to say? |
| other engineers. What does that mean? He led the | | | | Listening is a skill that can be learned. Practice, practice, |
| team? He worked alone? It was a collaborative | | | | practice. |