Geneen Stuart: Good Interviewing Requires Ample Preparation

PHILADELPHIA, PA, November 12, 2012

The interviewing phase is an important part of the hiring process. During this crucial step, candidates and hiring managers must determine if they will work well together and if the organization offers a good fit for the job applicant. While it is true that not every potential employee who is interviewed would thrive at a company, it is also true that preparing for the interview process is a great way for candidates to better showcase the value they will bring to the business. Geneen Stuart encourages job seekers to prepare for interviews by thinking about the possible open-ended questions the recruiter or hiring manager may ask. But Stuart explains that it is important for candidates to also ask questions to determine if they will enjoy working for the organization.

According to Business 2 Community, candidates should question their interviewer regarding details about the organization that are applicable to the work experience. Learning a bit more about the company and why others work for it can help candidates decide if it is a place they would like to be employed.

Stuart agrees with the article regarding the kinds of questions to ask. Some of the samples that the text provides include asking what initially attracted the hiring manager to the company, how they would describe the organization's culture, and why they enjoy working for that particular business. Additionally, interviewees may ask what the hiring manager would change about the company if they could alter just one thing.

"It is important for a candidate to ask questions to determine his or her fit with the organization," asserts Geneen Stuart. "Answers to open-ended questions will provide greater insight about a business and the position and can help determine if a candidate would be comfortable and happy working for a particular company."

Stuart also asserts that asking such questions serves another purpose--to allow the interviewee and interviewer to connect. Opening up this kind of dialogue allows for an exchange that will be better remembered than a standard question and answer session. She reports that a surprisingly low amount of candidates ask such questions, as most of them believe that the interviewer holds all of the power in the appointment. While it is true that following the cues of the hiring manager or recruiter is a good idea, it is also true that showing engagement in the conversation and contributing unique questions are a wonderful way to create a memorable, if not favorable, impression on the professional conducting the meeting.

ABOUT:

A former human resources professional, Geneen Stuart is a stay at home mom who is currently raising four children, two of which are twins. To maintain her expertise within the human resources industry, Geneen Stuart has functioned as a consultant during her professional hiatus. As such, Geneen Stuart continues to be well-versed in numerous facets of the human resources industry, particularly employee retention, management, and staffing. Stuart earned a bachelor of arts in rhetoric and communications from the University of Virginia.

Website: http://geneenstuart.org