In our December blog post about interview tips for our candidates, we stressed the idea that an interview is not meant to be an interrogation; rather an exchange of information.  However, often times when interviewing, it becomes too easy for hiring managers to get caught up in learning about the candidate’s skills and lose sight of the interview’s purpose.  As interviewers, we do need to evaluate candidates based on their experience, skills, and whether or not they’re a fit, but it is important to remember they are assessing us just as much as we are assessing them.

“It is especially important to keep this in mind when meeting with a highly skilled candidate that you would ideally like to hire,” says Jennifer Nyman, a Director of The Execu|Search Group’s Health Services division.  “As a recruiter, after we send our candidates out on interviews, we always follow up with them.  If they don’t have a good feeling about the place or people they interviewed with, they will most likely want to move on and try something else.”

In this sense, highly skilled candidates hold the most power in an interview.  Chances are, if you want to hire a candidate for all of their amazing abilities, others are vying for them as well.  Therefore, as a hiring manager, if you want your favorite candidate to accept the job offer, you must be able to sell yourself.

“To do this, take a step back, and reflect,” suggests Nyman.  “Think about what made you decide to take your job with the company in the first place.  What do you like best about working there?  Has the company presented you with any opportunities for growth and personal development?  If you were the job seeker, would you take the position?”

Once you do this, you will be prepared to explain to the candidate why your company is the best option and what you believe the company can offer.  The goal is to convince your candidate of choice that working at your organization makes the most sense.  If you do this, when they walk out of your door, they will make sure that getting that coveted job is their top priority.