matchmaking: reducing the pressure of interviewing job candidates
TRANSCRIPT
Matchmaking:Matchmaking:
Reducing the pressure Reducing the pressure
of interviewing job candidatesof interviewing job candidates
Therapists don’t do Therapists don’t do job interviewing?job interviewing?
Have interviewed 7,000 people in 30 yearsHave interviewed 7,000 people in 30 years
Must engage with them quickly, and get Must engage with them quickly, and get them to talk about themselves them to talk about themselves
Ask probing questionsAsk probing questions
Make quick assessmentsMake quick assessments
Therapists don’t do Therapists don’t do job interviewing?job interviewing?
Must connect with varied backgrounds, Must connect with varied backgrounds, educational and economic levels, ages, educational and economic levels, ages, dealing with every issue imaginable. dealing with every issue imaginable.
ps, I’ve interviewed, hired, and supervised ps, I’ve interviewed, hired, and supervised multiple counselors, too.multiple counselors, too.
What’s the point?What’s the point?
Finding the Right FitFinding the Right Fit
Goal? Determine if they are a good fit for Goal? Determine if they are a good fit for you, and vice versa you, and vice versa
Is this interview a test of how well they Is this interview a test of how well they respond under pressure?respond under pressure?
If they are less tense, you’ll get a better If they are less tense, you’ll get a better picture of the real person.picture of the real person.
Less self-conscious = more honest answersLess self-conscious = more honest answers
Who is this Who is this person person anyway?anyway?
Create the Right Create the Right AtmosphereAtmosphere
Take care of you! Block off time to prepare, Take care of you! Block off time to prepare, focus, get comfortablefocus, get comfortable
You go first! You go first!
Tell them about the organization’s mission, Tell them about the organization’s mission, successes, strengths, challenges being successes, strengths, challenges being faced, etc.faced, etc.
Tell them about you, your role, your Tell them about you, your role, your background/history, something personalbackground/history, something personal
Their turnTheir turn
Tell them something you’ve noticed in their Tell them something you’ve noticed in their background about them that caught your background about them that caught your eyeeye
Tell me something about you that’s not on Tell me something about you that’s not on your resumeyour resume
Three or four questions: What is attractive Three or four questions: What is attractive to you about this job?to you about this job?
Success you’re most proud of?Success you’re most proud of?
Take the ball backTake the ball back
Give them a chance to get out of the hot Give them a chance to get out of the hot seatseat
Tell them about your work style, your Tell them about your work style, your expectations of othersexpectations of others
Traits of successful team members thereTraits of successful team members there
Tell them about a current project, and ask Tell them about a current project, and ask how they would approach it.how they would approach it.
Next questions for themNext questions for them
Can use this for more probing questions--Can use this for more probing questions--
Tell me about traits of the best boss Tell me about traits of the best boss you’ve had, and of the least favorite boss you’ve had, and of the least favorite boss you’ve had.you’ve had.
Describe the skills you’d like to Describe the skills you’d like to strengthen in your next job?strengthen in your next job?
Want a writing sample?Want a writing sample?
Consider asking them what they see as the Consider asking them what they see as the pros and cons of this job for thempros and cons of this job for them
How do you stand out from your peers who How do you stand out from your peers who are applying for this job?are applying for this job?
Jim Balick, LCSWJim Balick, LCSW
(571) 969-7878(571) 969-7878
Office near Courthouse in ArlingtonOffice near Courthouse in Arlington