HCI Webinar Recap: Mastering the Art of Interviewing: Tools and Strategies for Hiring Exceptional Talent, with Jordan Burton

In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jordan Burton about mastering the art of interviewing and tools and strategies for hiring exceptional talent. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!

Watch the episode here:

Quick Recap

Jonathan and Jordan discussed the challenges of hiring exceptional talent, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and a more systematic approach to hiring processes. They also highlighted the need for clarity in hiring processes, effective interviewing techniques, and the importance of understanding the role one is hiring for. Jordan stressed the importance of focusing on candidates' past performance and experiences, and the need for transparency from both interviewers and candidates about job challenges and personal limitations.

Data-Driven Hiring vs. Intuition

Jonathan and Jordan discussed the challenges of hiring exceptional talent. Jordan, a professional interviewer, shared his experience of conducting numerous interviews over the past 17 years. He emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making in hiring processes, as opposed to relying solely on intuition. Jonathan highlighted the potential for implicit biases to influence hiring decisions and the need for a more systematic approach. They agreed that while intuition can be useful, it should not be the sole basis for hiring decisions.

Defining Success in Hiring Decisions

Jordan emphasized the importance of understanding the role one is hiring for, and the need to define success in that role. He stressed the importance of viewing an interview as a data-gathering exercise rather than a performance evaluation. Jordan also highlighted the need for a clear business need driving the hiring decision and the importance of tracking performance post-hiring. He concluded by suggesting that the interviewer's role is to gather relevant information about the candidate, without subjective judgment, and to ensure that the conversation is on track to provide useful data for the hiring decision.

Clarity in Hiring Processes

Jonathan and Jordan discussed the importance of clarity in hiring processes. Jonathan emphasized the need for organizations to revisit and update job descriptions and postings to reflect current needs and changes. He also highlighted the strategic importance of this upfront work, contrasting it with the often tedious and unsexy nature of the task. Jordan agreed with Jonathan's points, acknowledging the potential for mismatches if the hiring process lacks clarity.

Effective Interviewing Techniques for Hiring

Jordan discusses the importance of effective interviewing techniques for hiring. He emphasizes focusing on candidates' past performance and experiences rather than hypothetical scenarios. Jordan advises interviewers to guide candidates through interactive dialogues about their past accomplishments and challenges, rather than letting them give prepared speeches. He notes that the best predictor of future performance is past performance, while acknowledging that people can grow and change over time. Jordan also encourages transparency from both interviewers and candidates about job challenges and personal limitations to ensure a good fit.

Listen to the webinar here: