Recently, I have been asked to assist with interviewing and selecting an HR intern to join our department for a couple months. I would have to say, I haven't interviewed someone since I replaced my old position last summer after my promotion, and then before that was back in my recruitment days as a full time recruiter. So, being asked to interrogate a hopeful job seeker put me back in my old stomping grounds. While I used to LOVE recruiting, I have acquired so many new skills, I can hardly stand the interview process anymore. Tell me about a time when you did this, elaborate on a time you did that...the art of getting to the bottom of someone's ability and potential now only leave me flustered. This coming from a previous die-hard recruiter is really disheartening, because I do believe that recruiting is a great skill to have personally and professionally.
What drove me to fluster is the dilemma my colleague and I have, experience or not - that is the question every time a recruiter or hiring manager has an opening and begins the interview process. If you ever hire someone for anything, housekeeper, nanny, administrative assistant for your own entrepreneur venture, or an HR intern, you will run into a crossroad - experience or none. Because candidates come in all experience levels, background of knowledge and personality, if you are lucky enough to narrow your pool down to 2 or 3 great people the dilemma begins. Luckily, our dilemma came to an end late this afternoon when one of the top two candidates decided to pull out of the selection pool, leaving us with our hire. Pheww....so glad it worked out like that! It was going to be a very hard decision otherwise.
If you are hiring keep in mind:
- Do you need this person to hit the ground running OR is the job easy to pick up with some training
- Will the job at hand be challenging enough for the experienced or will they get bored overtime
- Reflect on how did you get your experience - someone gave you a chance, right?
If you are trying to gain experience:
- Do research on the job skill, take classes, webinars, seminar to familiarize yourself with the discipline, so that while you don't have the practical experience you will have the familiarity with the concepts and subject matter
- Prepare for the interview, like you are preparing for an exam; research and study the company and the position. Also - be prepared to discuss experiences that are similar or comparable to the job or internship you are seeking to get
- Don't give up, you will find someone, some company who will want to and is eager to welcome a newbie, give them a chance and help them get their foot in the door
