How to hire guide for employers

	A. Application Forms
	B. Confidentiality of applications received
	C. Letter on receipt
	D. Setting times and places for the interview
	E. Deciding what type of interview is best
	F. Deciding the information you need
	G. Understanding the information that the applicant may need
	H. Assessment tasks
	I. Contacting referees and making independent inquiries
	J. Employment Agreements
	All sections on one page

Printable version of this page

D. Setting times and places for the interview

Conducting interviews can be both time consuming and costly. In setting up the interview, it is important to consider:

• how many interviews you should undertake
• the best time for you and the applicant (for example, if the job is likely to be appealing as an after-school job, you need to hold interviews either after school hours at a time that also gives the applicant enough time to travel from school, or hold the interviews at the weekend)
• the length of time you need to interview the applicant and the break you might need between interviews
• respect for privacy and confidentiality, for example, you may need to schedule interviews in a way that ensures applicants do not learn each other’s identity
• providing enough notice to enable the applicant to arrange coverage for their existing job or childcare, if necessary
• travelling times, if you are recruiting from outside your local area
• selecting a place where you won’t be interrupted and both you and the applicant can talk comfortably.

When setting up interviews with applicants, be careful to maintain their privacy and follow any requests regarding contact that they have included in their application.

Also make clear to the interviewee any information, proof of experience or preparatory work that will be required at the interview, for example, a tradesperson’s certification or designer’s work portfolio.

back to top

This page was last updated on: 19-Feb-2009 and is current.