Interview Skills for Managers—Management Development

Step 1: Understand Corporate Culture

The most critical preparation a manager should do prior to conducting an interview is to understand his or her organization's core culture. An organization's core culture is what sets it apart from its competitors. For example, one organization's culture may be very competitive; a mild-mannered person would not fit well into this culture.

Managers who understand their organization's core culture screen résumés to see which candidates reflect similar values—backed up by appropriate job experiences and education—and which candidates do not. For example, if an organization's core culture is to put the customer first at all times, every candidate considered ought to offer evidence, first through a job résumé ...