• Ensure your interview team members know what they can and can’t ask. For example, does your team know they cannot ask “We went to the same school? What year did you graduate?” Before anyone in your company interviews candidates, they should attend interview training.
• If you are interviewing someone and realize they are not a fit for that exact role, go ahead and finish the interview anyway. Remember, this role may not be a fit, but a different opportunity may open in the future and this candidate may be the one you want to hire. Even better – review a list of all open jobs within your company before your interview so you can switch gears if needed.
• Do not use your phone as a clock in an interview - turn your cell phone off. The ringing and lights that the candidate may see and hear can be distracting to everyone in the room. Instead, ask someone outside of the room to wave at you from the hall to indicate when you have 5 minutes left, and then again when it’s time for the meeting to end.

As they say, you never get a second chance at a first impression. True. And in recruiting, you also need to ensure you have a great lasting impression on every candidate you meet.