Get the latest tech news

Interviewing for Evidence

One area where companies struggle is recruiting good people. I see enormous variability in quality and style of interviewing. This is something I care about, having spent nearly a decade working with some amazing recruiters at a global technology consultancy, and variously as an employee, contractor and independent consultant in many organisations.

Do they have ‘strong opinions weakly held’; do they dig their heels in in the face of compelling contradictory evidence; do they sway with the wind to try to please the interviewer, or hold their ground and counter? Taking turns asking questions gives each interviewer time to gather their thoughts, and maybe recap the recent conversation in a way that can get lost when you only write up your notes at the end. I prefer people to be their authentic selves in an interview rather than playing games with the candidate, unless you are clear about the rules: ‘OK, I am going to put you in a pressurised context now because sometimes you will need to make decisions in a hurry and with limited information.’

Get the Android app