Orlando Sentinel (Sunday)

4 ways job interviews have changed since the start of the pandemic

The Department of labor reports 8.4 million citizens are without work, with 10 million job openings available. We reached out to the Fast Company Impact Council, a collection of innovative leaders in business, to learn more about how they’re adjusting the

- Savanna Bous, Fast Company

A greater focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion

Now, more than ever, DEI principles are at the forefront of many companies’ hiring initiative­s. “As part of the interview process, we want to understand how a candidate has created or fostered diversity, inclusion, and belonging at work,” says Ashley Goldsmith, chief

people officer at Workday.

A chance to get to know a candidate’s ‘human’ side

The pandemic further smashed the divide between home and the working world. “I am finding myself to have much more of a personal conversati­on at the very beginning of an interview (with topics like) the childcare situation and schooling situation,” says Margery Kraus, founder and executive chairman of

APCO Worldwide. “I think it’s really important that we get to know the person, not just their résumé and their experience and accomplish­ments, but who are they are as a human being.”

A question that gets at a candidate’s personalit­y

Hiring individual­s with a high emotional intelligen­ce and strong soft skills helps teams grow and adapt more successful­ly, so it’s no wonder hiring managers ask

creative questions to suss out a candidate’s EQ. Kristen Delphos, vice president and head of marketing and communicat­ions at Dematic, says, “Many of our interview focus areas revolve around organizati­onal and culture fit, and what level of problem solving, innovation, and resiliency they bring.”

No tricks

Asking straightfo­rward questions allows the interviewe­e to show

their strengths clearly. “Our Talent Acquisitio­n team believes in a transparen­t, values-driven, and candidate-focused hiring experience that doesn’t require any unusual or surprise tactics,” says Ashton Stronks, director of communicat­ions at NeueHouse.

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