Instead of “Testing” a Candidate…
Today's tip is for the hiring managers! Back when I was lead PM on our key account at a small digital agency, I needed to hire someone I could train to take on a large portion of the day to day work I was doing. I was extremely nervous they wouldn't be able to take the pressure of working closely with our clients, so I was tempted to test them in our in person interview. I remember half jokingly suggesting staging an urgent escalation and asking them how they would handle the situation. 🤦♀️
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Now with 10+ more years of experience, I know this is not a good way to attract the best talent for your role. It's so important to build trust within the interview process, not only so they actually want the job you're offering (would YOU want to work in such an unpredictable environment?), but also so you can get to know the candidate as well as possible during the interview and make sure you get the level of detail you need to make a hiring decision.
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Have you ever tested a candidate, or have you been tested during an interview as a job seeker? I want to hear some funny stories if you have them! 😜
