A common opportunity for RAs and student staff members is to assist with the hiring of new staff members. This could be new RAs, desk assistants, or even some professional staff members. Regardless of what position is being hired for, being able to conduct an interview is a useful skill to develop–not only can you discuss your experience as an interviewer when applying for jobs, but you can also apply your skills to future interviews you may be a part of. When you understand the mindset of an interviewer, you can become a better interviewee. Even if you don’t want to pursue a career in housing, and the contents of these interviews aren’t relevant to your career goals, understanding the mindset of an interviewer is beneficial.
First Impressions
Being a good interviewee is about more than the content of your answers, it includes everything from the way that responses are framed to the impression left on the interviewer. Rightly or wrongly, an interviewer starts forming opinions about a candidate from the second they walk in the door, and it’s important to recognize what impression you are making. As an interviewer, you should check yourself. A good trick is to keep track of the positive and negative impressions you have of candidates when interviewing them. Then take some time to reflect on the reason why you had that reaction. (And as you reflect on your reactions, take time to consider any implicit biases you may have!) Doing this reflection can help you better understand how you may come off to a potential interviewer as an interviewee.Learn from others. Don’t be afraid to use someone else’s strategy for yourself, but don’t be a complete mimic. Ensure that you are still giving the interviewer an authentic impression of who you are as a person.
Understanding The Purpose Behind Questions
Interviewing people will also give you experience understanding what information an interviewer is looking for. When going through an interview process it can be difficult to comprehend the root of the questions you are being asked. It’s important to remember that an interview is assessing candidates for the skills that they have, as well as their comprehension of industry specific concepts. As an interviewer, reflect on the questions you’re aksing. What are you looking for? Did the candidate give answers that gave you what you were looking for? Why or why not? Being an interviewer allows you to have a better understanding of how to use an interview to show off your different skills and experiences.
Calming Nerves
Finally, having experience with interviewing will also help desensitize you to the interview process. Experience breeds familiarity. Even if you predominantly have experience as an interviewer, if you actively participate in the process, the setting of an interview will become more familiar, and less unnerving. This can boost your confidence in interviews from both sides of the table.
Good luck! You got this.
