Interviews - Have Your House in Order

If you want to do panel interviews, or the evil interview rotations, which are all bunk, be sure you are guarding the company's image. Too many panels are thrown together ad hoc for the purpose of that day or that search. The wide and varied people selected to talk to your precious, hard won candidates could cause you to lose that talent. How many of you got to pick your coworkers? How many times was your choice overridden by the executive that interviewed after the panel? How successful in terms of performance and longevity were the candidates selected by the gang up interview process? If you don't know, start there and ask one more question. How many candidates dropped out of the process? Candidates want to work for a company that is professional and well run. The politics, affiliations and frustrations of your panel could come out during the interview process. I have flown all the way to Wisconsin for a single day to interview after first interviews in Alabama. The HR Assistant forgets to give me directions around the construction. The second person I talk to is openly hostile during the discussion and I leave wondering why I spent all day in a suit in airports to talk to these bozos. I recently interviewed at a facility where the GM threw together some managers and direct reports of the position together for a third interview panel. After the panel, the direct report for the position took me on a tour. She was visibly upset, so I asked. She said that she had interviewed for the position and wasn't selected. She shared all of her frustrations with the general manager, the office arrangements and the politics. I was caught up in a restructure, so I pursued the position against my better judgement. They went with another candidate, so fate helped me dodge that bullet. If you aren't physically present and orchestrating the entire interview process, be 110% sure that you know the people handling your applicant. Every company is dysfunctional like a professionally dressed family holiday. Unless you want this bald truth exposed to your potential talent, control the process. There is enough good in the business to keep you there, so help them see that instead.