Client Zone

Taking Interviews - are you asking the correct questions?

Interviews are an essential part of the recruitment process, and will never be replaced. But getting it wrong time and again is a costly mistake. Have you estimated the cost of a Bad Hire lately?

In the aesthetics industry there is a general attitude that recruitment is about personal impressions, and that the process begins and ends with the interview. Stand-alone interviews remain the most popular method of assessment for selection. Interviews are sessions that give both candidate and employer a chance to meet face to face, allow both parties to ask questions, and make a judgement on the all-important chemistry.

Most interviews still tend to focus on work experience, educational background, leisure interests and aspirations. The connection between these types of questions and the actual job description itself can be on opposite ends of the spectrum. 

For example your Job Description states the following skill sets are required - Adaptability, Flexibility, Written & Verbal Communication, Decisiveness, Coping with Stress, Sales/Service Skills, Initiative, Listening skills and Technical Skills. Then you would ask questions like:
  • Describe a time when you adapted your actions in order to respond to the needs of another person - or situation 
  • How do you ensure that someone understands what you are saying? How do you practice good communication? 
  • Give an example of when you had to work with someone who had a totally different way of doing things. How did you manage?
  • Describe the steps you took to prepare for a major written assignment or Team Training session?
  • What kinds of decisions do you make easily? What decisions take you more time to reach an outcome? 
  • Describe a time when you had to deal with several stressful conflicting priorities
  • Describe your most satisfying sales or customer service experience. What makes you good at retail sales? What steps do you take toward implementing impeccable client care?
  • Give an example of when you found a way to make your job easier? 
  • What do you think are the characteristics of a good listener? Do you consider yourself to be a good listener? Why?
  • What are the concerns and things you look for whilst performing a Consultation with your clients? Can you take me through a typical Consultation as you would if I were a Client?

    Start devising some of your own clever questions. Ask probing, open-ended questions. Think about the types of answers you would expect from a high quality candidate - what will fit the criteria of your specific job description?
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