Interviewing

5. Listening

5.1 Listen actively and concentrate on what is being said.

• Avoid thinking about how you are going to respond or phrase the next question.
• Resist the temptation to talk too much.

5.2 Observe behaviour.

• You may be able to tell if candidates are confident, or are unsure of their ground.
• Avoid jumping to conclusions.Check any impressions you form by asking a probing question (see 4.1).

5.3 Keep notes to help you remember the individual candidates.

• The candidates you see first and last tend to be remembered better than the others.
• Notes provide the information you need for the assessment. They will also act as evidence if decisions need to be justified. See 7.4.
• Summarise your notes after each interview, while it is fresh in your mind.