Why Focus on Skills For The Future – Interviewer Skills
As an interviewer, it’s essential to focus not only on a candidate’s current skill set and level of experience but also on their skills for the future.
With the job market constantly evolving, it’s becoming increasingly important to hire employees who have the potential to adapt and grow with the company. Interviewer training can really help the interviewer identify the ideal candidate.
Most In-Demand Skills For The Future
To adapt your interview technique to filter through candidates and find those most likely to continue to grow, learn and adapt as the market changes, you’ll need to know what the most in-demand skills for the future are.
According to Bernard Marr, an international best-selling author, the most in-demand skills for the future, no matter the industry, will revolve around tackling high-level challenges. He explains that leadership, human judgment, complex decision-making and awareness of ethical, cultural and moral issues are a must for long-term employees.
And one of the most effective ways to identify and hire these types of candidates is to assess problem-solving, critical thinking and adaptability skills during an interview.
Interview Questions To Assess Skills For The Future
Ask questions that will help you evaluate the candidate’s problem-solving abilities, such as;
- Can you tell me about a time when you had to solve a difficult problem at work?
- How do you approach problem-solving in your current role?
- Tell me about a time you identified and fixed a problem before it became urgent?
- What is your approach when you face a problem at work?
- Have you noticed any processes we use as a business that you think we could improve?
- What do you predict is the biggest challenge we will face in the next 5 to 10 years?
These questions will not only help you evaluate the candidate’s problem-solving abilities but also give you insights into their thought process and how they tackle unexpected challenges before they can impact your business.
Unique Ways To Test Problem-Solving Skills
While questions are typical of a traditional interview process, why not consider a curveball to catch candidates off guard? To test problem-solving skills, challenge a candidate with a puzzle, riddle or moral dilemma. Ask the candidate to explain their thought process and their approach to the test.
Ask them at the end whether they found it an interesting element of the interview or something quite stressful. Since we never really know what the future may hold, having candidates that can adapt and perceive will be extremely useful.
Analyse Character & Perspective
Another important aspect to focus on during the interview process is a candidate’s character and attitude. These traits can often be a better indicator of a candidate’s potential for success within a company than their qualifications or experience.
Nobody wants someone who will react in an emotional or aggressive way if things don’t quite go their way. Or an employee who doesn’t know how to deal with a stressful experience at work.
So it’s really important to look for candidates who possess a positive attitude and strong work ethic, as well as values that align with the company’s culture. Be upfront with potential candidates and ask them how they would feel in different situations, ranging from a conflict at work to a disagreement with a client or a time when stress is at an all-time high.
Use Technology To Optimise Your Interviewer Technique
Additionally, technology and AI are becoming increasingly prevalent in the hiring process, and it’s essential to consider how to use them to optimise your interview technique. Tools like chatbots and AI-powered recruitment software can help you screen resumes and identify top candidates, while virtual reality can be used to simulate real-world scenarios and assess a candidate’s problem-solving abilities.
These technologies can help you save time and resources while providing valuable insights into a candidate’s qualifications and fit with the company.
Reduce Staff Turnover By Future-Proofing Your Interview Process
In conclusion, it’s essential to focus on skills for the future, assess a candidate’s potential for growth, and evaluate their character, attitude, and cultural fit. By doing so, you’ll be able to identify the best candidates and build a more skilled and adaptable workforce, reduce staff turnover and increase productivity and morale.
