How can you compare one&nbsp;candidate against another? How can you be sure an applicant is right for your company? Which questions should you ask to find out the most about each potential employee? Conducting a great job interview can be a tricky business, so here's C&amp;M's guide to getting the very most from each meeting.
Research and prepare
You would expect all candidates to have done their research before attending an interview, so why should the interviewer go in unprepared? In advance of meeting the applicant, you should attempt to get an idea of who will be stepping into the room. So look at their social media profiles, re-read their CV and have a copy in front of you during the interview to refer back to.
If you're using a&nbsp;<a href="../../../../../../about-us/">recruitment agency</a>, then take on board everything that they've told you and have this information with you throughout the meeting.
Also, have an appropriate amount of time booked free in your diary and make sure you have secured an appropriate room in advance. Private interviews should never be conducted in public.
Explain the process
Most candidates will have taken time off work to see you, so at the start of the interview it's important to let them know the expected duration, process and format that the meeting will take.
Many companies also like to introduce potential recruits to some of their existing employees to see how they may fit into the team. If this is the case, then let the candidate know this before you begin asking questions. Don't wait until the end of a 90-minute interview to let the candidate know they're required to be here for another hour while they meet their potential colleagues.
Make them feel at ease
It's entirely normal for candidates to feel nervous and on edge in the run-up to an important job interview, so try to put them at ease. Ask them how their journey was and whether they would like a glass of water.
A lot of candidates have an 'interview persona', but you should aim to get past that and find the real person, so make them feel comfortable and try to get them to talk naturally to you.
There's also no point in asking questions that are designed to provoke candidates or make them feel uneasy &ndash; you want to get to know them rather than annoy them.
Keep it consistent
Some interviewers tailor their questions to each applicant, but it's a good idea to have a list of questions that will be asked to all contenders for a particular role. This creates a level playing field and will let you compare candidates against each other far more easily.
"What do you know about this company?" "Why do you want this role?" "Have you ever had to deal with performance management issues?" "Tell me about a problem you encountered in the workplace and how you dealt with it?"
Also, make sure to ask them about any gaps in their CV and, if it's a customer facing role, then you may want them to do a presentation.
Let them know the next steps
At the end of the interview, ask them how they thought it went &ndash; "do you think you would like to work here?" It's then important to let the candidate know where they stand or, at the very least, what the next part of the process is and when they can expect to hear from you.
If the meeting didn't go well and you have the confidence to tell them this, then let them know immediately because although it may be tough to hear, they will appreciate your honesty.
Equally, there's nothing wrong with taking your time to make a decision. But if you're convinced that this is the candidate for you, then you may want to offer them the position straight away to demonstrate how keen you are to have them as part of your team.

Conducting a great job interview can be tricky, so here's C&M's guide to getting the very most from each meeting

Job interview tips for clients

JOB ADVERT - KEY DETAILS 
JOB TITLE&nbsp;&ndash; Despite the urge to grab attention in your job title, it makes far more sense to keep it simple and generic, so if you're recruiting for a Business Travel Consultant, then your job title should simply be 'Business Travel Consultant'. This is because when a candidate searches for a role, job board algorithms mean the roles which most closely resemble the search term will be featured first. Think about it from a candidate&rsquo;s perspective - most people will just search for a simple job title, so anything with extra detail (such as 'Business Travel Consultant &ndash; South West London' or 'Business Travel Consultant &ndash; excellent salary') will feature down the list of search results below adverts with simpler job titles
LOCATION&nbsp;&ndash; In complete contrast to your job title, you should be as specific as possible with your location. Candidates are much more likely to search by a postcode, town or city than by a region or county, so never advertise your role as being in the 'South West' or 'North East'. Ideally include the postcode, but if you don't want to specify the exact location, try using the postcode for a nearby train station or coffee shop instead
SALARY&nbsp;&ndash; Job adverts that feature a salary are far more likely to grab the attention of job seekers so always include pay levels if you can. If you don't want to include the exact figure then include a salary band, but if you can't mention numbers at all, then highlight another reason for someone to join your company - for instance 'excellent salary and uncapped OTE' or 'competitive salary plus great career growth potential'
JOB TYPE &ndash; Specify whether the role is a permanent, temporary or contract position
JOB ADVERT &ndash; MAIN BODY 
Job Title&nbsp;- this should be bold and in capitals. For SEO reasons, you will want to repeat the job title around four or five times in your advert. A great way of doing this is to use the headings in bold below.
Description &ndash; in lower case, use a couple of sentences to sell your company, briefly detail the role and tell candidates why they should work for you. For instance: 'A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join this established and expanding independent TMC based in wonderful modern offices in the heart of the City. Due to continual growth, we are looking for the best Business Travel Consultants around to join our friendly team and will pay up to &pound;40,000 plus an amazing bonus, benefits and opportunities for career progression.'
Job Title - Responsibilities&nbsp;&ndash; i.e. 'Business Travel Consultant - Responsibilities'
<ul>
<li>Using four or five brief bullet points, list the key responsibilities or duties of the role. For instance:</li>
<li>Look after a range of high-profile accounts booking their worldwide travel arrangements using Amadeus</li>
<li>Deal with enquiries including complex itineraries by phone or email from start to finish including flights, accommodation, car hire, rail etc.</li>
<li>Offer the best solution for each customer while optimising profit opportunities</li>
<li>Liaise with suppliers and offer a high level of service to clients</li>
</ul>
Job Title &ndash; Required Skills&nbsp;&ndash; i.e. 'Business Travel Consultant &ndash; Required Skills'
<ul>
<li>Using four or five brief bullet points, list the key skills that are needed in the role. For instance:</li>
<li>5 years' experience working as either a Business Travel Consultant or Senior Business Travel Consultant</li>
<li>Knowledge of Galileo or Amadeus is a must</li>
<li>Excellent Fares knowledge</li>
<li>Strong ticketing experience</li>
</ul>
Job Title &ndash; Additional Information&nbsp;&ndash; i.e. 'Business Travel Consultant &ndash; Additional Information'
<ul>
<li>Using four or five brief bullet points, list the benefits of working for the company including the salary, perks, bonuses, potential for travel, free car parking etc. For instance:</li>
<li>Earn up to &pound;40,000 plus an excellent bonus, benefits, pension and healthcare</li>
<li>Free on-site parking and free use of on-site gym</li>
<li>Educational trips to long-haul destinations, plus discounted holidays for family members</li>
<li>Excellent scope for progression &ndash; this is a brilliant time to join this company</li>
<li>Work Monday to Friday from 0900 to 1730</li>
</ul>
Finally, you need to let the reader know how they can apply for the role, so end the job advert with a short sentence stating that if a candidate is interested in the position, they should send their CV to ### or call ###.

Here's our indispensable guide to creating a great job advert

recruitment tips

Recruitment Tips