Interview Training and Preparation

Training the Interview Team & Preparation

General preparation

Training hiring managers and interview panelists ensures they can identify top candidates, adhere to guidelines, and support a fair, unbiased selection process. Organizations often require interview training, delivered by HR or the in-house talent team, to demonstrate commitment to a fair and respectful interview process. It's important for the hiring manager to align interviewers with the process, discuss goals, provide context beyond materials, and address questions.

Interviewer trainings

While we strongly recommend that the following topics are facilitated by experts in your organization, reference the following resources to better inform your interview preparation process:

• Interviewer Prep

• Unconscious Bias Training

Interviewer Prep (USDR).pptx

2MB

Open

Unconscious Bias Workshop Slides - External Version.pptx

2MB

Open

Pre-Interview Preparation

Interviewers should review each candidate’s resume and experience prior to conducting an interview. Spending 15-30 minutes carefully reviewing a candidate’s background and qualifications before the interview serves 2 important purposes:

• It allows the interviewer to gain a solid understanding of the candidate’s experience, skills, and potential fit for the role

• It demonstrates the interviewer has made the effort to prepare, an approach that reflects the level of diligence and organization the company expects from its own employees

Virtual Interviews

To help candidates prepare for a virtual interview, consider sharing the communication template below, which includes helpful tips.

Virtual Interviewing Preparation for Candidates

Thank you for investing your time to get to know our team. We’re excited to get to know you better in this next round of discussions and hope these tips will help you get the most out of our time together.

1. Prep your area.

Pick a quiet and comfortable spot where you can interview uninterrupted. We also recommend choosing an environment with a neutral backdrop and to check your lighting so that the interviewer can see you clearly. There will be scheduled breaks throughout the day so you can get up, stretch, let the dog out, etc.

2. Test your tech. Make sure your internet, computer, and any other tools you’ll need are

already up and running so you can focus on the conversation. In some cases, we may ask you

to download additional tools or programs. Be sure those are ready to go too before your virtual interview starts.

1. Check if you have a reliable internet connection that meets the bandwidth requirements for Google Meet video calls. The ideal bandwidth is about 2 Mbps for a 2 person HD video call. You can check the speed of your connection using a site like Speedtest and read more about Google Meet bandwidth requirements here.

2. Check if your computer is charged and/or plugged in

3. Confirm Google Meet is working properly. Check to make sure your mic and camera are activated, that the volume is adequate, and there’s no echo or reverberations. (Fix audio or video call problems - Meet Help).

If you or an interviewer have technical issues that you can’t quickly resolve, the interviewer may ask to move the conversation to a phone or other video calling solution.

3. Close unnecessary programs. Before your interview, make sure all other windows/tabs on your computer are closed (especially if they make noise or use a lot of internet bandwidth). To be safe, you can also turn off your notifications altogether for the duration of the interviews by going into your computer settings.

4. Before and after. If you have questions as you prepare, or after the interview, the best person to contact is _____.

We look forward to learning more about you and are here to help if you have any questions or concerns prior to your interview!