Interviewing financial candidates can be a challenge, particularly because those with the right skills are either already working for other companies or they are in big demand. Therefore, you will want to make the most of this time with a promising financial candidate, making a positive impression that will impress them to come work for your company vs. a competitor.
Here are some quick tips for how to properly interview financial candidates.
Start with the phone-screening interview.
The last thing you want to do is waste a valuable candidate’s time, therefore the phone-screening interview can be very useful. Have a good intro prepared for the candidate about the company, what you are looking for, and a set of questions that can get to the bottom of the candidate’s career goals. Gauge how excited the candidate sounds, if they are interested in the company and how they feel about the industry as a whole.
Move into the interviewing phase as soon as possible.
Once you have conducted the phone screen, and you are certain this is a candidate you want to learn more about, schedule an in-person interview as soon as possible. Keep in mind the candidate’s schedule, if he or she is currently employed. A temporary staffing agency can support the initial phases of screening and interviewing financial candidates too, so you can make the most of this time.
Research and prepare solid financial interview questions.
The interview is a valuable time to find out more about the candidate, therefore you will want to make sure to prepare a series of at least 10-12 good financial interview questions that probe deeper into the candidate’s background, experience, and goals. Remember to ask open-ended questions and allow the candidate to ask some questions about the company, too.
Present a generous job offer and package.
Once you have checked and verified and met with the candidate, you can move into the job offer phase. Have a generous job offer package put together, including a starting salary and benefits that are worthy of the candidate’s value. Prepare a job offer letter and give it to the candidate to consider, with a deadline for making a decision set.
When you use the above tips, your financial interview will go smoothly and you will likely end up with an amazing employee.
