Mastering the Art of Interviewing and Selection

Mastering the Art of Interviewing and Selection is a guide for any line manager who has to recruit staff. The guide complements the State Services Authority's Best Practice Recruitment and Selection Toolkit and 24 Recruitment Myths and Facts.

This guide covers the following:

• preparing for the interview
• conducting the interview
• other assessment techniques
• reference checking
• rating an applicant overall
• making the choice.

Line managers have the responsibility to get the interview and selection process right and to positively represent the organisation as an employer of choice.

A well-managed interview and selection process means that the best person for the role and for the organisation is likely to be selected.

The interview is the most commonly used selection technique and, if used appropriately, is one of the most powerful predictors of work performance of potential employees.

The interview provides you the opportunity to:

• meet the potential employee;
• gauge the applicant's ability to meet the requirements of the current role, and possible future tasks,
• through a variety of interviewing techniques; and
• determine whether the applicant has the right personal attributes to fit your organisation and team.

Interviews, when combined with other assessment activities such as work sample or job knowledge testing, psychometric (attitude and cognitive) testing, and a rigorous reference checking process, provide you with a comprehensive assessment of an applicant's ability to do the role and their fit within your organisation.

(NB. This document is a guide only. It does not replace departmental or agency policy.)