Hiring Interveiw

Person Interviewed:  Boyd Draper, Senior VP of Engineering Development and Project                                                         Management for Savage Services

• How much does physical appearance and professional dress play into your hiring decision?

First impressions are important in the interviewing process.  The way a person dresses helps me form that first impression, therefore it is very important.

• Do you like group or individual interviews better?  What are the advantages to each?

I like to start with individual interviews first, this allows me to get to know the candidate on a personal level.  If more interviews are needed group interviews can help me see how the candidates work in a group setting. 

• What questions do you like to hear from the candidate at the end of the interview?

Questions that show that they did their homework about the company they are wanting to work for. 

• How should a candidate best prepare for an interview with you?

Preparation should include researching information about the company to see if the company is a good fit.  Dressing professionally and being on time.  Bringing a copy of their resume in case I am unable to quickly locate theirs.

• What is the first thing you look for or notice in an interview?

Besides the way there are dressed, I notice how they carry themselves, how they interact with strangers, their body language, if they are nervous, their confidence level

• How important is professional dress to you during an interview?  Is there anything as dressing too formal?

Professional dress is extremely important.  Since I hire people who will travel and represent the company throughout the world, I want them to present themselves in a way that would provide confidence in the company. 

•  What is the process you use to narrow down candidates who are equally qualified?

Sometimes I look at their education, how the interview went, their previous experience.  But a lot of the time it comes from how I felt during their interview. 

• What are some red flags you notice during interviews?

Red flags would include: overconfidence, speaking poorly of previous employers, being late to the interview, not admitting to any weaknesses or shortcomings, blaming previous failures on others

• What are the most important requirements for those you are interviewing?  Experience vs. education?

For most of the jobs I do the hiring for education is a requirement, and experience is the icing on the cake.  There are certain things a person can only learn through experience, but without education the job would be overwhelming. 

• Some people get nervous when being interviewed, how much does that affect your decision in the interviewing process?

If a person is nervous it is ok, as long as they aren’t nervous because they are not qualified for the position.  Being nervous in some ways is a good thing.  Someone that is not nervous may be overconfident. 

• What are some of the things you look for in someone you are hiring?

One thing I look for is how they interact with people, including me, during an interview.  How they respond to my questions, and how they carry themselves in uncomfortable situations.  An interview is a perfect situation to test someone in the people skills, and ability to communicate in stressful situations.

• What bothers you most about people that come in for interviews?

I am bothered when people are late, and keep me and others waiting.  I respect them and their time, they should offer me the same respect.  I also find it disturbing when candidates come across as arrogant, and act better than everyone else.  On the other hand, I don’t want candidates to answer questions without personality and individuality with textbook answers.   

• What is your favorite interview question?

One of my favorite questions to ask a person is what their hobbies are.  Especially with candidates that have recently graduated from master’s programs.  This question allows me to see more about who they are.  I want employees to have culture, and individuality that bring more than simply an education to the table.

The person I conducted this interview with is my Dad.  Many of the questions I asked him I had heard his answers before, but there were some surprises.  One interesting thing to me is that all of the these questions apply in the interviewing process regardless of work industry.  My dad is an engineer who travels all around the world designing and overseeing construction of exporting terminals.  This is very different from what I do, but most of the questions have applied to interviews I have done in the medical industry.  The interviewing process is done to find the best candidate for the job, sometimes the questions aren't job specific, but people specific.