Professional Interviews: An Opportunity for Mutual Learning

The average interview takes around forty minutes.

What transpires during those forty minutes?

Ideas are exchanged, thoughts are shared, concerns are addressed, and more importantly, lessons are learned.

Both, the interviewer and the interviewee are coming together with a certain set of expectations. Regardless of whether they fall short of these expectations or surpass them, there is something to gain at the end of every interview.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at the benefits of professional interviews and the many lessons they have to offer both parties involved in the process.

New Interview = New Experience

Every interview is a new experience for both, the interviewer as well as the interviewee.

The interviewer opens the door for a fresh, new perspective, and the interviewee is encouraged to tell his/her story. This can go a long way in helping candidates develop their confidence and self-esteem. An interview that leads to a less desirable outcome creates an opportunity for growth and future self-improvement.

Similarly, an interviewer has a lot to gain from hearing about the interviewee’s perspective, experiences, and expectations. It allows them insight into the general sentiment of potential candidates and enables them to fine-tune their questioning, structure, or approach for the next candidate.

Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

The right questions can create a wonderful space for self-reflection among both parties. The interviewer must reflect on what it is they have to offer potential employees, whereas the interviewee must reflect on what they have to offer the company.

Opportunities for feedback also allow candidates and interviewers the awareness of what they are good at and identify areas that require improvement.

Professional Interviews and Developing Communication Skills

The path to professional success is a long one, and one that cannot be navigated without effective communication skills. A professional interview creates a space where two professionals (albeit in different places in their careers) can practice their conversational and negotiation skills in real-time.

That is because interviews require both parties to communicate their interests and requirements clearly to ensure a mutually beneficial outcome.

Testing the Waters

An interview allows candidates to get a taste of what to expect while working for a particular company. Similarly, it allows interviewees to gauge the work ethic and level of expertise in a given candidate.

During an interview, both parties are in a constant process of evaluation, with the aim of understanding what they can grow to expect from each other.

Exploring Opportunities for Mutual Growth

Every professional interview is a mutually beneficial experience for interviewers as well as interviewees. It allows both parties to identify their strengths and weaknesses, gain perspective, improve their ability to communicate, and gain a deeper understanding of their own expectations from one another.

Want to learn how to maximise the efficiency of your interview process? Get in touch with our experts at HireHunch to learn how you can take your interviews to the next level and get the best possible employees for the job.