INTERVIEWING GUIDELINES
FOR EMPLOYERS
Georgia Department of Labor
Know Types of Job Interviews
Although there are many types of interviews, the exploratory
and job-specific types are the most common.
Exploratory Interviews
l are designed to determine preliminary job suitability and
interest
l occur at job fairs, in on-campus recruiting, and in response
to an applicant’s inquiry
l may be done over the telephone or in-person
Job Specific Interviews
l may be done by an individual or a team
l will usually be done face to face
l follow a structured format
l provide information about the job opening
l include specific questions relating to job requirements
l may sell the company’s benefits, growth opportunities, etc.
l should allow the applicant to ask questions
l should tell the applicant what will happen after the interview
Seven Steps in Preparing for the
Interview
Since the outcome of the interview process depends on ad­
vance preparations, these reminders may help you with your
interview planning.
1. Prepare Job Description
l A well prepared job description contains a job title,
job location, tasks, preferred knowledge areas and
skills, educational requirements and salary range
l You can create a customized job description by
visiting www.careeronestop.org
2. Review Résumés and Applications
l Scan for appearance
l Look for omissions
l Review work history for consistency
Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner
3. Plan Sufficient Time and Appropriate Environment
for Interviews
l Determine how much time should be allowed for the
entire interview process
l Allow time for testing if applicable
l Include time for reviewing application and résumé just
before interview
l Allow time for applicant to ask questions
l Leave time for writing up your notes
l Plan an appropriate environment free from distrac­
tions, noises and interruptions
4. Prepare Basic Questions
l Allow a couple of minutes to build rapport
l Develop a list of questions that will provide a well-
rounded evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications
l Be sure to include questions that will help assess the
applicant’s self-management skills as well as job-spe-
cific skills
l Ask what the candidate would do in a given situation
l Limit questions to job-related matters
l Avoid questions regarding protected characteristics
such as age, sex, and race
l For more information on Equal Opportunity visit
www.eeoc.gov
5. Practice Effective Listening
l Talk less and listen more
l Listen for information that connects the applicant’s
skills and behaviors to the job description
l Listen “between the lines”
6. Consider Interview Options
l Telephone Interviews
- Save valuable time when there is a large number
of applicants
- Streamline the screening process by asking a
structured set of questions by telephone
- Show the candidate’s ability to speak succinctly
about previous experiences and accomplishments
continued
DOL-4439 (R-5/05)
 l Traditional Interviews Pitfalls to Avoid
- Use a single interviewer
- Involve a structured set of questions in a face to l Using acronyms
face interview l Reading the application or résumé back to the applicant
l Team Interviews l Talking down to the applicant
- Consist of two or more interviewers on a panel l Talking about yourself
- Save the time it would take to set up two or more l Interrupting the applicant, as long as he or she is saying
separate interviews something relevant
- Enable interviewers to compare impressions right l Hasty decisions
after the interview l Questions that may violate equal opportunity laws
l Making judgements based on culture or educational differ­
7. Evaluate the Interviews ences
l Be consistent in your approach to evaluation, testing l Stress interviews (In which an applicant is deliberately put
and reference checks on guard, made to feel uneasy or tested for a purpose
l Assign numerical values to factors evaluated known only by the interviewer), unless clearly job-related
l Total numerical values and use high scores as a guide
to selections No matter how seasoned the interviewer, a well developed
interview plan will help to achieve a successful employee
selection process.

Visit our website at www.dol.state.ga.us

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program l Auxiliary Aids & Services Are Available Upon Request To Individuals With Disabilities