Interview Lessons from the Field

At the start of this year, we adopted a new approach called facilitated interviewing at our firm. This means we act as passive observers during our clients’ interview processes, allowing us to gain insights and provide immediate support. The results have been eye-opening.

Why We Started Facilitated Interviewing

We introduced this process to improve both the client and candidate experience. By participating in the initial Zoom interviews, we could connect with our clients 5 minutes before bringing in the candidate to:

1. Review the resume.
2. Address any concerns or questions.
3. Set clear expectations for the interview.

After introducing everyone, we turn off our cameras and mics to observe the interview silently. At the end, we thank the candidate, discuss initial feedback with the client, and—if there’s alignment—we immediately move to scheduling the next step. This eliminates the usual 48-hour lag time, ensuring we don’t lose great candidates due to feedback delays.

Key Findings From Facilitated Interviews

1. Structured Interview Kick-offs We've developed a simple yet effective approach for our clients to start interviews on the right foot:
2. Improved Understanding of Fit Observing interviews firsthand allows us to better understand what our clients see as a good fit. It’s not about convincing our clients to hire someone—we’re here to help them hire the best talent for their unique needs. Hearing the questions they ask and understanding the specific challenges they’re looking to address has been invaluable in refining our search process.
3. Uncovering Interview Gaps We’ve found that many hiring managers—whether newly promoted or highly experienced—struggle with structured interviewing. New managers may lack experience, while seasoned managers often rely on outdated techniques. We’ve seen questions asked that have no “right” answer or that don’t clearly align with the role’s requirements.

Offering Resources to Improve the Interview Process

We believe in sharing what we’ve learned. We offer interview guides, frameworks, and tools—free of charge—to anyone who could benefit. Our resources can help you:

• Ensure alignment before starting a search.
• Create strong interview foundations.
• Use tools like ChatGPT to turn position descriptions into scorable interview questions based on technical skills, cultural fit, and behaviours.

If you’re interested in these guides or want to improve your hiring process, feel free to reach out!