Training and Development

Training and Development Resource Materials

Selection Interview Materials


Selection Interview Materials: Strategies for Successful Recruitment and Retention - [Word Doc]


Program Overview

As a manager, you know that much of your success depends upon the people who work for you. If your employees do their job well, if they interact smoothly with their peers, and if they fit in with the organization's culture, your department will be able to accomplish almost anything.

But how do you develop a successful department? The secret is to hire the right person for each job. And to do that, you must first know what skills, experience, and personal qualities a person must have to do a particular job well. Only when you know what a job requires can you find the right person for that job. Gut feelings and intuition isn't enough.

After screening resumes and applications, a personal interview conducted face-to-face or by phone, is the key to selecting the best candidate. Managers should know how to plan and conduct an effective interview.

A good interview should bring out a candidate's strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for the job in question. It also presents the job and employer to desirable candidates in the best light. An interviewer must know how to structure an interview, ask good questions, probe and listen for what's relevant in responses, and avoid areas that are offensive and/or illegal. Since supervisors know best what's needed to fill openings in their units, they must be able to effectively interview and select candidates.


Training Objectives

At the conclusion of this training, the manager will have the following opportunities to:

  1. Plan an effective interview.
  2. Create a list of general questions to ask candidates.
  3. Structure questions for particular candidates and positions.
  4. Avoid questioning that strays into illegal areas.
  5. Listen to and interpret candidates responses.
  6. "Sell" the employer and job to qualified candidates.
  7. Conduct focused useful interviews that successfully identify the best candidates.
  8. Follow Boise State University Recruitment and Selection Procedures.

Last reviewed Aug 2006