Finding great employees is a skill, and if the interview process is the "showcase" of your interviewing skills, then top talent is "the prize." A well-executed process can be the difference between a successful hire and an unsuccessful one.

For this reason, it's essential to get it right. Many companies are now turning to a 3-stage interview process to ensure they find the very best fit for each position. A three-stage interview process is a type of job interview that involves multiple rounds of face-to-face conversations with potential hires. Each stage would be considered one of the steps in the interview process.

The three stages of the interview process are:

1. Pre-screening.

This stage includes an initial conversation between HR and potential candidates to determine whether they have the basic qualifications for the job and if they would be a good fit culturally. Here you could include telephone interviews, video calls, online questionnaires, or conversations via a messaging app.

2. Interviews

Once the pre-screening stage has been completed, you can move on to the next step: interviews. This could involve one or more rounds of face-to-face interviews with different people on the team, including hiring managers and senior leaders. It may also include online tests or other assessments to measure skills and aptitude.

3. Final Interview

The final interview stage is typically a face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager and other key stakeholders. The purpose of this step in the process is to get a better sense of the candidate's qualifications, aptitude for the job, as well as their fit within your organization's culture.

By using a three-stage interview process, you can ensure that the right candidate is chosen for each position. This process allows hiring managers to evaluate candidates in a more comprehensive manner and make sure they are making the right choice when it comes to hiring new employees. Additionally, by having multiple rounds of interviews with different people on the team, employers can gain valuable insights about potential hires and their fit for the job.

Throughout an entire interview process timeline, you'll want to "tick a few boxes" to ensure you've got a great candidate:

1. Initial Applicant Screening to assess their qualifications for the role.

2. Interviewing for the team and cultural fit,

3. Assessments to verify their skills are fit for the role.

4. Checking References to get a better understanding of how they will perform on the job.

5. Making an Offer to secure the best candidate for the job.

These are all factors to consider. When interviewing, it's also helpful to have access to a resource like interview intelligence software. This type of software can help you track, rate, and score applicants for an efficient interview process. Solutions like Pillar build interview question libraries, scoring tools, interviewer coaching solutions, and other features to help you hire the best candidate for the job.

Best Interview Process

So what does the best interview process look like? Well, first of all, it should be tailored to the specific needs of your company and the roles that you're hiring for - But in general, a great interview process is one that not only finds qualified candidates but also ensures the best candidate for the job is chosen.

The most effective interview process timelines typically have five to six stages:

1. Pre-screening – This stage includes an initial conversation between HR and potential candidates to determine whether they have the basic qualifications for the job and if they would be a good fit culturally. Here you could include telephone interviews, video calls, online questionnaires, or conversations via a messaging app.

2. Interviews – Once the pre-screening stage has been completed, you can move on to the next step: interviews. This could involve one or more rounds of face-to-face interviews with different people on the team, including hiring managers and senior leaders. It may also include online tests or other assessments to measure skills and aptitude.

3. Assessments - After the interviews have been completed, employers can move on to assessments. These could include personality tests, skills tests, and problem-solving exercises.

4. Checking References – Getting references from previous employers can provide you with valuable information about the candidate’s work experience, attitude, and character. This stage helps you to get a better idea of how the candidate will perform in your organization.

5. Decision Making – After all stages have been completed, it’s time to make a decision about whether or not to hire the candidate. The hiring manager should consider input from the team and weigh up all the data collected during the interview process.

6. Making an Offer – Once the decision has been made, you can make an offer to secure the best candidate for the job.

These are the typical types and stages of the interview, but there are many different ways to conduct effective interviews- so you'll have to find what works best for you. By having a well-structured interview process in place, your company will have the best chance of hiring top talent and ensuring they are a great fit for the job. Additionally, it creates an efficient and stress-free experience for all involved.

Additionally, using interview intelligence software like Pillar can help you streamline the process while ensuring that you're making the right decision when it comes to selecting new employees. No matter what type of interview process you choose, the goal should always be to find a candidate who is the best fit for your company and team culture. By following these steps, you can ensure that you are hiring the right people for the job, every time.

Interview Steps Process

Many people are familiar with the S.T.A.R. interview process. Invented by DDI the STAR interview process is a great way to structure interviews and ensure that candidates are being asked the right questions. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result- it helps employers assess how candidates handle specific situations in the workplace and evaluate their ability to complete tasks with success.

Methods like STAR give you the ability to follow a consistent process in order to make sure you get the most out of each candidate interview. While the interview process steps will vary from company to company, here is an example of an effective interview steps process for the STAR method:

1. Establishing the Situation – Ask a question that describes a workplace situation or challenge that a candidate may have encountered in their past experience.

2. Describing the Task – Ask questions about what actions they took to address the situation and what their specific tasks were in that particular role. This will help you understand how they handle pressure.

3. Assessing Actions – Ask questions about how they handled the task, what strategies they used to address the challenge, and whether or not they received any feedback from supervisors or colleagues on their performance.

4. Evaluating Results – Ask about the end result of the situation and whether or not the task was completed successfully. This will give you an understanding of how they handle responsibility and how well they can adapt to changing circumstances.

Another method is the PEACE method created by Google. It stands for Preparation, Engage, Answer, Check-in and Exit. This method helps ensure that each candidate is given the time to answer questions as well as ensuring that they are comfortable with the interview process.

The PEACE Method follows five steps:

1. Preparation – Before the interview, make sure to go over the candidate’s CV and research their background so you can be prepared with relevant questions.

2. Engage – Create an open dialogue with the candidate and make sure to establish a rapport throughout the interview process

3. Answer – Allow candidates to answer questions in detail, giving them adequate time to explain their answers fully.

4. Check-in – Throughout the interview, make sure to check in with the candidate to see if they have any questions or need clarification on anything.

5.Exit – After the interview has finished, thank them for their time and let them know when they can expect to hear from you.

Both methods are equally effective when implemented properly. In fact, most of the hiring methodologies that we've seen are well-founded and have merit, but they must be adapted to fit the individual company's needs. The important thing is to create a structured process that you can use each time so that you know exactly what steps to take during an interview and make sure that you are asking the right questions.

In addition to traditional methods, there are emerging trends in interviews such as video interviews virtual reality scenarios, and many more. These new methods provide a unique way to evaluate candidates and can help employers get an even better understanding of how the candidate would fit into their organization.

No matter which method you decide to use, it’s important to remember that the goal of any interview process is to assess a candidate’s suitability and ensure that they are the right fit for your organization. By following these steps, you can make sure that you are hiring the best possible candidates for each role and maximize the efficiency of your recruitment process.

At Pillar, we believe that by leveraging technology, you can ensure that your interview process is efficient and effective while also providing a great experience for both the employer and the candidate. Our proprietary AI-powered candidate analysis tools have helped hiring teams lower employee turnover by 50% in the last 12 months, all while decreasing time-to-hire and lowering cost-per-hire. If you'd like to see how book your demo of Pillar today! Our team would love to show you how we can help you make better hires.