The interview process is not only your first impression with a potential new employee, but also one of your first opportunities to create an engaged employee. The Brilliant Ink Employee Experience Survey found that 89% of people interviewed felt excited by the interview process. What a perfect opportunity to start off on the right foot! Here are a few tips to make a lasting impression and snag the best talent out there:

• Select an interviewer (or interviewers) who will be a good representative of your company.  Someone who is enthusiastic about your company will paint a picture for the candidate of this being a place where they want to be. Even better, have multiple people from different areas in the company take part in the interview so the candidate can see that everyone from the exec to the intern enjoys working for your company.
• Encourage the candidate to ask questions throughout the process. Instead of having questions fired at a candidate, encourage an open dialogue and for the candidate to ask questions as they come up. This will help them feel included in the interview process.
• Share current projects at your company. Aside from confidential matters, allowing for transparency about what people are working on will allow the candidate to feel invited into the company and imagine working there and where they would fit into existing work.
• Give the candidate a taste for the company’s culture. Give them a tour of the campus and point out things that make your company stand out. Do you have an on-site chef? Do you have a monthly take-your-dog-to-work day? Showing the perks of working for your company will leave the candidate excited about working for you.
• Help the candidate understand the overall picture. When the candidate can see where they would fit into the larger organization, they will feel connected to a higher purpose. Be sure to discuss career path opportunities that may be available for that particular role to show what’s possible - an exciting future at your company!

How does your company stand out in an interview? Do you have a list of great, engaging questions or someone who is a stellar interviewer?