My name is Victoria Lovaglio, I’m a psychologist and I’ve been working in HR for 5 years.
During this time I have worked for different markets and industries, which has led me to understand that an effective interview goes beyond following a script: it requires an intentional approach, considering the dynamics we have as human beings and the ability to read beyond the answers.
Here are some of my reflections.
Table of Contents
Preparing interviews
This is key to carrying them out in a structured way and not leaving anything out. It does not need to be super structured, like STAR (although it is a method that I highly recommend), but we do need to take a moment beforehand and think about the needs we have as a company, team, and the position for which we are recruiting.
Create a comfortable environment
Keep in mind that interviews can be very anxiety-provoking for the person in front of us, so creating a comfortable environment is extremely important. And we do it in a very simple way! Asking how are you, how was your week, or trying to make a joke to break the ice. And the best thing about this is that the person who is relaxed is more likely to express themselves better and be more transparent.
Measure curiosity and proactivity
Do this without asking directly. Observe if the candidate asks questions that demonstrate prior research and a genuine interest in the role and the company. Well-thought-out questions can say more about their commitment and curiosity than the answers themselves. Everything is a message, so you also have to be attentive to the “non-answers”: Pay attention to the questions that the candidate avoids or answers vaguely. This could indicate areas of discomfort or lack of experience that you could explore at another time in the interview.
