[RichieRich]

Hello Allan
I went on a short interview and selection course which i now find invaluable...it was based on behavioural interviewing techniques and the principle was very briefly, deciding before hand what you were looking for in the canditate then asking them open ended questions(questions that required a full answer intead of a yes or no by starting the question of with ..what when where why how etc )

example
closed question:can you prepare a precise profit and loss plan
answer:yes!!!doesnt tell you alot!!

open question:What factors did you take into account in the last profit and loss plan that you prepared and what was the eventual outcome(this forces the canditate to explain something they have already done and doesnt allow for one word answers and the technique is further demonstrated by probing deeper should you want to know more with further closed questions.

how accurate did the forecast measure uip to actual plan?
what did you learn from doing this plan?
hwo much did you enjoy doing the plan?
What did you find most enjoyable
etc etc

The whole principle is using the canditates previous experience that he tells you of to predict how the canditate will react to given situations should you employ them ,and the system frowns heavily on asking the canditate any questions of how they may react in a scenario you set up as your almost gauranteed to hear what the canditate wants you to hear but its nigh on impossible to bluff an interview when behavioural interviewing is being used.

Very short explanation and hope it helps and id definately advise you to go on this type of course if you plan on doing even a few interviews as the investment in employees is massive both financially and such a mine field legally today to chance getting it wrong.(its improved the quality of employee i now emply on behalf of the business i work for and also greatly reduced staff turnover)

good luck

ps My first pst on the excellent forum so a big hello to one and all