How can you productively prepare for interviews?

Interviews are fundamentally important in the hiring process as they provide a valuable opportunity for employers to assess candidates' qualifications, skills, and fit for the role directly and interactively. However, it's not a case of arranging a time and place and scanning through a candidate's CV beforehand. You need to put a bit of work in to make it successful.

Success is where preparation and opportunity meet. - Bobby Unser

1?? Scenario

You are preparing to interview candidates for a new role in the organisation.

??How you can apply elements of the Connected Project Framework

People -

1. Read the candidate's CV in detail, and highlight any key areas that are of interest to you for conversation.
2. Research the last places they have worked. Look at the website and look to understand how they operate and the culture. Are there any key differences or similarities?

Process -

1. Create the right environment. An interview is a two-way conversation. Ensure you are in a place where you both converse and actively listen without distractions.
2. Begin with open-ended questions that encourage the interviewee to share their experiences and qualifications. For example, "Tell me about a project you're particularly proud of."

????Why it works

The detail you put into your preparation will shine through. Not only are you showing respect to the candidate, but you are also giving them the best opportunity to present themselves to you, allowing you to make an informed decision.

??The results you can achieve

Hiring is a competitive business. Showing you are a cut above the competition through your attention to detail will ensure you have the upper hand in any negotiations where another party is in play.

??What to watch out for

Give yourself enough time to prepare properly. Not leaving yourself enough time to prepare will mean that you will be making things on the fly and that will show through to the candidate.

??♂?One way to start

Time block your preparation slot the day before an interview. Mirror the time allocated. If it's an hour-long interview, schedule an hour of preparation.

Personal note on productivity

Last week kept me on my toes with a whirlwind of travel and a series of client meetings. While I value face-to-face interactions, I may have packed my schedule a bit too tightly.

In the past, I associated a jam-packed calendar with being productive. I used to believe that the more appointments I crammed in, the better the results would be. Sleep took a backseat as I prioritised squeezing in as much as possible.

The pandemic forced me to hit the brakes and rethink my perspective. With the cancellation of all the "important" events, it provided me an opportunity to ponder on what productivity truly means to me.

Recently, I re-read an insightful book called "Deep Work" by Cal Newport. The core message emphasizes the pervasive nature of distractions in our modern world. Multitasking has become the norm, and it's been detrimental to our productivity.

By advocating for deep work within our team, we can cultivate an environment that nurtures sustained, high-quality performance while also prioritizing employee well-being. This approach not only enhances productivity but also contributes to talent retention, satisfaction, and overall organizational success.

During my travels, I got the chance to catchup on the fantastic podcast ReThinking featuring Adam Grant with Cal Newport discussing Cal's latest book, "Slow Productivity." They delved into how we can redefine productivity by:

• Doing fewer things
• Allocating the necessary time to our goals
• Focusing on the quality of our output

I'm genuinely looking forward to reading this book because despite scheduling deep work sessions, they can still feel rushed and overwhelming.

Embracing the concept of slowing down while maintaining productivity is something I'm eager to explore further.

Until next Monday.