The interview was a disaster.
I was a young HR professional and was sitting on a gray couch in the back of the senior attorney's office.
Watching in discomfort.
Wondering if I should step in.
Kicking myself for not speaking to the attorney beforehand.
A job candidate that I had screened and recommended was interviewing with a senior attorney.
But the attorney was dominating the interview.
Apart from asking a few yes or no questions, the attorney spoke the entire time.
The job candidate sat silently, nodding occasionally. The candidate spoke probably less than 2 minutes in total.
And this was a great attorney leading the interview. Clients loved him, he did great work, and was committed to the firm's success.
I realized then that even successful and talented immigration attorneys may have HR knowledge gaps, like how to conduct a successful interview.
That's where the 70/30 rule comes in. Or 80/20. Or 75/25.
Whatever the percentage you want, the point of the rule is to focus on listening more than talking in interviews.
Focus on asking questions that elicit (sometimes) in-depth answers from the candidate.
Plan beforehand the types of questions you ask.
Maintain a consistent interview process for all candidates.
Yes, a good interview can feel like a conversation, and of course there is back and forth.
The 70/30 rule is only a guide.
The interviewer can still speak, sometimes at length--about how the firm works and the practice, for example--and to answer any questions.
But let the candidate talk.
How else will you know if they are a good fit?
#ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationAttorneys #InterviewTips #HiringExcellence #LegalProfessionals
