WNEP Hiring Step 3c

Set up the interview process

One interview per candidate or two? This is a decision you should make early in the hiring process

One Interview per candidate (ie Final interviews only): Scheduling only one round of interviews and inviting only the very top candidates has the advantages of saving time and easy of scheduling for your interview team. Tough decisions about which candidates to invite to the interviews are made solely on the application packet of materials.

Two Interviews in series-Preliminary Interviews and Final Interviews: Setting up an interview process that includes two rounds of interviews is certainly more time consuming. The advantages are the ability to include more candidates in the Preliminary interviews and the chance to learn significantly more about your top candidates by inviting them back for a second (final) interview.

Tips

Candidates for UW-Extension positions have the right to confidentiality during the screening and preliminary interview process. In order to protect the privacy of Preliminary interview participants, conduct Preliminary interviews at a location away from the County Extension office. Be sure to make sufficient arrangements for greeting the candidates as they arrive.

Coordinate schedules with the interview team and set up interviews. Share applicant materials/information with your co-interviewers. Everyone on the Interview Team should have a copy of each application and the interview questions.

The interview should be held in a private place with limited distractions and interruptions. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes per interview (Preliminary interviews can be shorter, if necessary). If you are scheduling many interviews on the same day, allow 15 to 20 minutes between each so you can write your notes and review the application for the next person.

Determine how you will ask the questions. Will the interviewers take turns asking questions? Who will begin?

Tips

Print a copy of the interview questions with plenty of white space between the questions. Make enough copies for each member of the interview team to use for all interviews. These provide a good place for the interviewers to take notes about the applicant's responses.

Be prepared for the interview and questions applicants may have.

• Review the job description. What are the essential job duties? What will the worker do on a daily (weekly, monthly, annual) basis and why? What knowledge and abilities are required? Which are preferred? Consider offering to each candidate the "Description of the Work and Duties of a Nutrition Educator" which can provide a very helpful overview of this position and will help candidates better determine if the position is right for them.

• Have an employee handbook ready so when an applicant asks about pay, work hours, safety rules, benefits and other issues, you are ready with the answers.

• Be prepared to answer questions about possible promotions, raises and opportunities for advancement.