Interviewing takes preparation and organization. Once you are prepared the interview will go smoothly and you will get the information you need. However, it’s easy to get off track. Once this happens the interviewing process can be biased or ineffective. There are some guidelines you should consider as you prepare and conduct your interview that will help you stay on track and allow you have the best interview possible.

Stay away from instincts and intuition. Interviewing is more than a gut feeling. Candidates are doing their best to project a positive image and this image might not always be a true indicator of their skills and abilities. Leave your preconceptions and biases at the door and ask questions that will determine whether your applicant is qualified for the job.

Develop behavioral interviewing questions that will determine if candidate has the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for the job description you are hiring for. These questions should focus on specific past behaviors. These past behaviors are the best way to predict future behavior. They leave out biases and allow for finding the best candidate. They will need to remember the event you are requesting. Don’t be afraid of silence. Allow them the time to think.

Use open-ended questions during your interview. Close ended questions can be answered with one word or a yes or no and rarely provide enough information to determine if a candidate is qualified. Make sure you are prepared with a list of behavior-based open ended questions for your interview. Stick to the script when interviewing. You have done a large amount of preparation. Don’t blow it by suddenly improvising and changing the script. There is no easier way to get off track and mess up all your careful preparation.

Taking notes is one of the most important parts of an effective interview. Note-taking will allow you to go back and see exactly what you were thinking when a candidate gave an answer and what they said. It’s easy to forget an interview after it happens. If you rely on your memory it leads to decisions based on gut feelings. Candidates are trying to project an image and this image might be all you remember.

Following these guidelines when preparing for and conducting your interview and your chances for success improve exponentially. They will help you stay on track and conduct an interview that gets you the best possible staff for the job. Interviewing is never easy but with preparation and a well-organized plan the process can be a smooth one.

If you are looking for a career in Human Resources than you will want to put together a resume that tells the employer exactly what you have to offer. Showcase your resume by starting off with a cover letter that is specific to the position in which you are applying for. Enclose this letter with your resume so that your communication comes across as professional and responsible.

Make sure to use the same paper and font for both the resume and the corresponding cover letter. Always remember to spell check and even have someone else proof read your resume for accuracy and hidden errors. This is only a one shot deal and you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

By personally signing the cover letter and handwriting essential information on the envelope adds a personal and sincere touch. A career in the Human Resource field is an exciting and one and surely you have had the schooling and experience to prove that you are a team player and someone that any company would love to have on board.

When writing your resume for your Human Resource position, be sure to include your name, address, phone, email and any other applicable personal information that will be beneficial in the call back process. It is best that this area of contact information is located at the top of the page. Front and Center. You do not want the employer to strain to read your name, so it is a good idea to have this area be in the largest sized font of the entire resume.

Remember, be brief, don’t put too much personal information on the top of your resume, but make sure you have enough options available so that the employer can easily call you back. This is the most important section as this is where your contact information can be found.

Next, you will be adding a paragraph that will give a general overview of your qualifications and what you are looking to achieve in the Human Resource field. Be sure to accentuate on Key words related to your field such as management, working relationships, staffing, leadership skills, sales and marketing, team leader, knowledge, experience, and corporate. Being able to take some of those key words and blending them into a brief but crisp overview is essential in creating a good resume. Here are a few samples of what it could sound like-

Decisive team leader with over 10 years experience in the Human Resource field. Ability to multi task and remain result oriented on project management. Knowledgeable team leader with corporate leadership experience in sales and marketing. Eager to bring forth my expertise and employee relation skills to be an asset to a position in the Human Resource field.