My First Experience as an Interviewer

Reading Time : 3 minutes

Three weeks ago, my heart was pounding and my nerves were anxiously cracking. As I sat in an online interview for a summer internship at The Citizens Foundation. Thankfully, I passed that interview and was offered a place as an Assistant Team Leader in the Internship Program. I accepted the role and initiated my work as a team leader. My very first task was to conduct interviews for the position of English Instructor. This would be my very first experience as an interviewer. Faced with a quirky irony of these circumstances, I dived right into this task as conducting interviews was a part of my bucket list.

For many, this may seem like a weird thing to include in a bucket list. But for me, this was one of the very first things on the list. I feel one learns a lot when he/she sits in a panel of interviewers and evaluates the interviewees on their interpersonal skills and job requirements. One also improves his/her communication skills by being an interviewer. But my experience as an interviewer also taught me about the varied backgrounds, interests, ideas, and dreams of the interviewees.

Interacting with 18 different candidates, aged between 19-25 years, I realized that as fascinating as the job of an interviewer sounds, it is not that simple. Here is a list of things that no one really told me what I as an interviewer should have looked out for:

Things to keep in mind

• Sitting at one place for five hours left my bottom wedged to the chair (Not kidding!).
• My legs were dog-tired. I couldn’t feel them.
• I indeed had a sore head even though I was only drinking tea the whole time.
• My back cracked like that of an old man’s back after staying seated for so long.
• My stomach growled because I dozed off in my lunch break. (11:00 am is too early to wake up!)

As much as I wish I knew about these grave hitches of being an interviewer, however, it did not hinder me from my learning experience. Here is a list of questions that I found are essential for every interviewer to do and ask from the interviewee to make those fifteen minutes valuable for both the parties:

Questions

1- Before diving into the interview, asking the well-being of the interviewee makes them feel at ease and calms down their anxious nerves. A nice, warm good morning-how are you, should do the job.

2- A calm interviewee makes the panel’s experience better. Hence, allowing me to throw in as many technical questions that are suited for the candidate.

3- Discussing the hobbies and interests that the candidate shared further assured them that the interview process is entirely about them. And we have a genuine interest in getting to know them.

4- Respect is the foremost essential part of this entire process. Hence, I had to ensure that I do not depict myself as arrogant because I am sitting in the hot seat. Tomorrow, in a different organization, our roles could be reversed.

5- Asking follow-up questions on the first scripted question sets the entire flow of the interview. It sets the next line of questioning for the rest of the panel.

6- Observing the tone and expressions of the interviewee can give a pretty good idea of how motivated they will be during the tenure of their job. So, take my advice and keep your eyes and mind open all the time. (Unagi!)

Adapting to an Online Setting

These are some things that I learned from my first experience as an interviewer. I am sure, if life gives me this chance again, I will learn a lot more than this. These interviews were conducted online; hence, the protocol of a traditional interview could not be practiced. In online interviews, dress-code, posture, and eye contact are inadmissible. Thus, the only protocol that is followed requires both parties to be punctual, maintain a formal decorum, and be respectful of each other.

Lastly, my experience as an interviewer taught me, if you are in a position to conduct interviews online during the epoch of COVID-19, be considerate of technical hindrances and thus, give a second chance to those who ask for it. I, myself had to face this hindrance multiple times and upon the request of eager candidates, I have rescheduled interviews. Therefore, it’s better to take out fifteen minutes from a busy schedule rather than take a chance away from someone who could potentially benefit you. I enjoyed my first time as an interviewer to the fullest. And I am glad I could tick that off from the bucket list. I hope you enjoy your first experience as an interviewer too.