“I’ve “interviewed” (read: warm, intro call) over 40 people in the past year, for C4E. And, here are a few things that I do to make the other person comfy.
💣 A warm welcome: Just as in any social interaction, a warm and friendly welcome sets the tone for the rest of the conversation. Even a simple, opening remark like “It’s great that we’re chatting today” helps ease initial nerves.
💣 Engaging in small talk
I’m not a fan of small talk, but when it helps break the ice, I’m all for it! I usually ask about which city they’re currently in. Or, share a super random detail about my day. I’ve observed that it helps set the tone; the person knows I’m here for a semi-formal interaction instead of a super professional, boring one.
💣 Context-setting
Providing a clear overview of what the call is about and sharing our expectations also helps reduce uncertainty and anxiety.
💣 Open-ended questions
I start with open-ended questions, encouraging the person to share their experiences and insights without the pressure of sticking to the point. This approach helps them feel like they’re having a genuine conversation rather than being grilled.
💣 Active listening
When I pay close attention to their responses and show genuine interest, they feel more enthusiastic about the conversation. Nodding, maintaining eye contact, and acknowledging their answers show that I value their input.
💣 Empathetic attitude
Showing empathy towards their nervousness, or mentioning that it’s normal to feel a bit anxious makes the other person feel less alone. When I acknowledge this, I usually receive a chuckle and see an immediate calmness in their voice.
💣 Encouraging questions
I make sure to establish that the person can ask as many questions as they’d like. If I want to leave the call feeling confident in my decision, I also want them to feel the same. Do they see C4E as their home, or not? There should not be any doubt!
💣 Expressing appreciation
This might be super intuitive, but I always end the call by expressing gratitude. I want to let them know that I appreciate their time and efforts; regardless of the outcome.
Finally, I’ve also noticed that when I’ve got someone from my team joining these calls, conversations within the team also help ease the interviewee. More importantly, it’s an unfiltered showcase of our culture.
Interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience for many. Someone might’ve had a super horrible experience; leading them to have jittery nerves about this one. It’s why it’s important to make sure the call itself is valuable and warm. It doesn’t just help the other person, but also you.
I hope these help. I would love to know about your interactions and learnings too!