Are you an interviewer or interviewee?
We ask this question because these two positions, although forming part of the same process, will require you to learn different skills. At first glance, though, when skimming through a course description, they might appear very similar. Each participant has to prepare prior to the interview. They'll also need to ask – and, by the same token, reply to – important questions. At the end of the process each party will also need to make an internal assessment as to whether they wish to form a partnership with the other.
Yet the skills required for an interviewee will be very different to those needed by the interviewer – and for this reason it's important you fully research a training course before committing yourself to a place on it.
The Main Differences Explained
Preparation for the Interview
As a candidate, it's very important to research your prospective employer prior to the interview. Although they'll be interested in the skills you can bring to the role, they'll be just as curious to learn why you want to work for them. What products and/or services do they sell and why are you passionate about them? What are their achievements and their plans for the future?
In exactly the same way as the above, an interviewer will be shortlisting potential candidates by screening CVs. When conducting this research, you'll therefore need to assess interviewees against specific criteria that'll highlight those with the right skills for the job. Of course, how you advertise the role is just as important, which is why you'll need to learn how to
draft a job description that's accurate and compelling.
Questions to Ask in Interviews
The objective of the interviewer and interviewee are the same – to learn as much as possible about one another to check compatibility. However, the types of questions they ask will be different. An employer is going to be assessing a candidate's behaviour to see whether their personality will be a ‘good fit' for the team they're joining. They'll also be interested in that person's life outside of work. What sort of interests do they have and how might those passions positively contribute to the role they'll be expected to perform?
The interviewee – as suggested earlier – will need to ask equally searching questions that will be geared less toward the overall personality of the person assessing them and more toward learning as much as possible about the role itself, the team they'll be working in and the culture of the company they're joining. They'll also want to find out as much as possible about the technical requirements of the role advertised – so they can be certain that it's right for them.
Common Ground
The interview process is not all about differences; it's about finding common ground too. Although the approach of each individual will be slightly different, their final aim will be the same. Both parties are making an assessment as to whether they feel a working relationship will be of mutual benefit.
Conclusion
Whether you're an employer looking to source the best possible candidates, or a prospective candidate looking to increase your chances of winning an important position, our
Job Interview Skills and
Interviewing Skills courses will help you achieve your objectives.
