To increase the odds of helping you attract and close top talent in competitive areas such as marketing, sales and creative, we wanted to share our best interviewing tips. These are the most tried and tested strategies for winning in interviewing.
EFFECTIVE INTERVIEWING HELPS YOU CLOSE THE BEST TALENT
Candidates with a positive interviewing experience are 38% more likely to accept an offer. A large majority of the candidates 80Twenty recruiters present to our clients are not active job searchers, they have been specifically headhunted to fit our clients’ hiring needs. As such, it is very important to engage and excite candidates keep them interested and invested in the hiring process. We consistently see big differences in our clients’ recruiting and interviewing process that impact the results of their hiring. Some clients win great candidates, while others lose countless candidates, and not due to the position or pay itself. Simply due to the interviewing process and the excitement (or lack of excitement) that it builds up over time.
5 ways to put the odds in your favor of closing the right candidate:
1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER
This sets the stage for their intent to proceed in the interview process and how enthusiastic they feel about the potential opportunity. Be on time, friendly and approachable, and avoid multi-tasking if it is a video call
2. SELECT THE RIGHT INTERVIEW TEAM
Don’t start off with the pitch in an in-person interview. First of all, you first want to make sure this is a promising candidate. So, wait until the end and at that point you will have also learned about what’s important for the candidate, so that you can tailor your pitch to fit their career goals (again, don’t make it directly about them, but rather speaking descriptively about the role).
3. HAVE A PITCH READY
Be prepared to speak to what makes this role and your company a great next work home for the candidates. This is extremely important in order to win high-caliber talent. They are interviewing you as much as you are
interviewing them! Wait to give your pitch at the end so that you can tailor it to
what you have heard the candidate say in terms of what they are looking for in
their next role.
4. MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS QUICKLY
Speed is your friend in recruiting and will increase the odds of closing the candidate you want. Our most successful clients schedule follow-up interviews after 2-3 days.
5. CAP YOUR INTERVIEW ROUNDS AT 4
Lengthy processes often lead to losing candidates. Industry data supports that four rounds are sufficient to reach an informed hiring decision.
As a specialty staffing agency 80Twenty would love to help you with any recruitment and hiring needs you might have – current or future ones! Our team of recruiters are highly trained in marketing, sales, creative and executive recruitment and we specialize in high-caliber talent. Feel free to reach out to discuss any upcoming position you might need help with!
Annika Brytnse is the co-founder and CEO of 80Twenty, a company recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in San Francisco, CA, under her leadership. With a rich background directing prominent Digital Media and Advertising agencies, Annika brings extensive expertise in Media, Marketing, Advertising, and Creative industries. Her profound understanding of these sectors has been instrumental in shaping 80Twenty's success and establishing it as a pivotal player in the industry.
