Stop Bad Interview Behaviors Before They Start

Have you ever had a candidate who turned every negative into a positive? Every question about a mistake or weakness turns into another story of how amazing they are? Or a candidate who struggled to get to the point, answering a simple question with a 10-minute tangent or digression?

It happens all the time. Even strong candidates will ramble occasionally—often due to nerves or because previous interviewers have allowed these behaviors. While many techniques exist to handle these issues, laying out a roadmap can stop bad interview behaviors before they start.

Incorporate these brief scripts at the beginning of your interview to set expectations before the candidate exhibits any problematic behavior.

Here's how you can structure your interview to include them:

1. Small talk (to warm things up).
2. Set the agenda (take charge of the conversation, let them know you have a set of questions and will leave time for their questions at the end).
3. Briefly introduce yourself and your role (but don't spend too much time on this).
4. Insert your chosen spin-buster or ramble-stopper module from the list below.

Ramble-stopper No. 1:  "I have many things I want to cover with you in this short time. If it works for you, let's hit the 'big headlines' of a story first and then dive into the details where it makes sense. Does that work for you?"

Ramble-stopper No. 2:  "I'm excited to learn more about you — I hope we can cover a lot of ground. Would it be OK if I occasionally jump in or nudge the conversation along to ensure we hear your full story?"

Every negative into a positive stopper - "You’ll notice a fair number of questions about mistakes, missed opportunities, and areas for development in your past. We have a strong culture of learning and growth here; being open about the good and the bad is a big part of that."

These small changes lead to more efficient and honest discussions and provide candidates with a sense of comfort. Candidates want to know what you expect from them, and your transparency will be refreshing.