Fear No Project Blog – Focusing on the Management Side of Projects

In these tough economic times it is more important than ever to hire and retain the right people.  For those of us who are fortunate enough to be in a hiring position, it is incumbent upon us to pick the right candidates.  Applicants prepare for important job interviews. They think about the answers they will give to typical interview questions and the questions they will ask. They may practice with friends or spouses and they may even hire a consultant to help them “ace” the interview.

But what about the interviewer?  As a project manager who is looking to hire team leaders, developers, designers, testers and support staff, you need to practice and rehearse for your interview, too.

Remember that hiring is selling as much as it is selecting. You need to make sure that you gain the information from the applicant that you need to make an informed decision AND you need to persuade viable candidates that your organization is the place they want to be.

Businessnet offers some advice to interviewers in their thoughtful article: “10 Mistakes Managers Make during Job Interviews” including mistakes like talking too much and failing to ask the tough questions.

At Cognitive Technologies, we suggest following a back to basics approach that helps you “Hire or Staff for Success”. We have found that excellent candidates who stay through the tough times and continue to contribute to the organization display the following four qualities are:

1. Continuous desire to learn
2. Ability to communicate
3. Commitment to quality
4. Practical aptitude (or  common sense)

You are welcome to get a copy of “Staffing for Success – Back to Basics” by registering in our library. Getting the free user login will allow you access to this or any white paper in the library.

If you have a favorite interview question, please share it with your comment.