The selection interview is not about what people have done in the past, even if they are changing jobs because they were fired or laid off. Focusing on the Past Instead of the Future The important point is to avoid any questions that are not related to the job for which the candidate is interviewing. For example, 'How old are you?' is not a legal question, but 'Are you over 18 years of age?' is legal. It's also the questions that seem legal but really aren't. It's not just the obviously illegal questions that get people into trouble, although they are common ones to avoid: race, age, religion, marital status, etc., so I won't enumerate them here. Not following up with candidates who aren't selected for an interview. Judging candidates based on appearances alone. Here are the 10 worst mistakes in the selection interview:įocusing on the past instead of the future.Īsking about salary and benefits too early in the process.įocusing on weaknesses instead of strengths. The selection interview is your opportunity to see how the candidate does the job (the task), how they think about their work (the process), and how they talk about themselves (the person). It's also hard for them to recognize their own weaknesses. It's difficult for many people to be objective about their own work and how they do that work. The scholarship interview mistakes to avoid is a critical part of the hiring process, perhaps the most critical part because if you get this wrong, you're not going to hire anyone… period! The 10 Worst Mistakes In The Selection Interview