As a hiring manager, it’s up to you to do your best to screen all potential new hires through smart interviewing techniques. However, this is one of the most challenging aspects of being in the decision seat – knowing how to effectively interview to get to the core of what each candidate brings to the table.

Understanding how to ask the right questions, note behavioral cues, and match candidates to the work they are suited for are the secrets to success. Read on to learn how to improve your interviewing skills and the quality of your new hires.

Know the candidate’s background.  It’s amazing how candidates spend days learning about the company, but the hiring manager doesn’t take the time to read the candidate’s resume enough to know something about them.  Before the interview, take some time to read the resume, noting things to ask during the interview.

Give the interview enough time. The last thing you want to do is rush through an interview. You need time to get to know the candidate, ask questions and give the candidate time to respond, and provide the candidate with a good overview of the company. Never schedule interviews back to back.

Task the candidate with an exercise. A good ice-breaker and a way to evaluate a candidate’s ability to think outside the box is with a challenging exercise given to them at the start of the interview. It can be a word puzzle or a current project that needs another set of eyes. How the candidate responds can tell you a lot about the candidate’s work style and adaptability.

Stay away from standard questions. Every job seeker has a series of job interview question answers memorized before stepping foot in your office. Therefore, you need to change it up with some completely new (yet still legal) interview questions.

Ask for references and examples. Sure, the resume says one thing, but the candidate’s true talents may be completely different. Get the candidate to share some more information about the challenges of their past jobs, and ask for at least two more professional references you can follow up with.

Allow the candidate to ask questions.  One critical piece in the puzzle of hiring the best candidates is looking for those who are truly interested in the company and its future success. Allow the candidate to freely ask questions about the company leadership, mission, and any recent news. Then answer them tactfully.

Good interviewing skills take time to master, but with practice you can become a much more effective hiring manager. Get support for your recruitment and ask for pre-screened candidate from Staffing Resources. You’ll have access to candidates who represent the best in their industries and skill sets, making it more productive during the interview process.