The Preliminary Telephone Interview

Prior to an interview, make sure that your Recruiter has briefed you with respect to the Candidate (i.e. motivation for making a change, family situation, potential obstacles).

If a Candidate is not local to your area, you should interview them briefly on the phone first. The Recruiter should make arrangements for the Candidate to call you so that they will be in a position to speak freely. It should be your goal to gather just enough information about the Candidate to determine if you should invite that person to your office for a face-to-face interview. Briefly describe your company, the opportunity and the key ingredients you are looking for in a Candidate. Then, referring to the Candidate’s resume, ask a few questions to determine their qualifications based on the criteria you have set. If you feel good about them, set up an appointment immediately or tell him that the Recruiter will contact him shortly. Contact your Recruiter to provide feedback and have them follow up further on your behalf.

Prepare the Candidate for your face-to-face interview by providing them with information about the company and the position (Job Description) as quickly as possible. Include a meeting agenda so that the Candidate can prepare himself for the interview (this will also give the Candidate a sense of professionalism and organization about your company). Make sure that you include a letter (preferably handwritten) that lets the Candidate know you are looking forward to meeting with them.

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