How Interviews Help Choose the Right People

When you have your own business it’s inevitable to hire people to work with. I am new in hiring people although I had a job where I interviewed people for a position within a company I used to work for. However, I was never responsible for hiring a person. Until my husband and I decided to buy a house and do it up as a business. We had to hire people to manage the house build.

We lined up a few companies and people for interviews. This was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life! I learned a few things when interviewing people.

Learning to Listen

People often tell you “I know people!” or “I can read people!” or “I am really good with people!” when it comes to choosing someone to do a job for you and trusting people it’s a different story. I have to look beyond “I know people!” I have to ask questions that would give me answers and confidence they can deliver the job.

When people ask you “So tell me a little bit about yourself?” is the best question anyone can ask! Why? Because a person tells you things they want you to know about them. What they say is important but it’s equally important what they don’t say. For instance, when people tell you which city they went to school but don’t tell you which school. What job they did but don’t tell you what company and so on. I learned to listen a lot more of what people don’t actually say.

People Behaviour

Showing the actual project they need to do and talk them through it is important. I must make sure they understand what the job is and what it entails. How they listen or don’t listen is key! We had one lady who came in and didn’t seem to pay any attention to what needs to be done. That behaviour tells me this person would not listen to our needs for this project.

We had some guys who’d turn up and walk around trying to charm us both (my husband and I) so we give them the job. The behaviour tells me how they actually going to do the job…those who don’t listen they won’t listen to what we want to do. They’ll be doing the job how they think it has to be done. That’s not the managers we want.

Trying to charm us is ok to start with but if that’s all there is, work is hard and charm is not going to help them to do the hard work when it gets tough. Trust me it does get tough! In the interview people show themselves either in a good or a bad light and it’s their choice.

Managing people

Most people tell me they’ve been to the best management programmes. Let me tell you the best way to manage people is actually manage a group of people trying to build you a home. I can tell you I deal with every type of person you can imagine on the planet; with suppliers, with the builders with shop assistance to business owners, people that work for councils.

Trust me that’s the best management program you will ever be on! There’s no better school than actually dealing with people from all walks of life on a daily basis and trying to complete a project within a tight deadline. Dealing with institutions in any country is a process one always has to follow. It does take time too particularly with governments i.e. councils.

I lived in Italy, I am from Lithuania, I live in Spain and I had been living in the UK for a decade and a half trust me the bureaucracy is more or less the same everywhere. Take or add a few days depending on a country.

The Lesson

Have I become an expert in choosing people and dealing with people far from it! In fact one thing I’ve learned is that I know absolutely nothing. It’s amazing how sometimes basic things teaches me the most. The people we work with today are amazing people. We ended up going with someone whom my husband knew for many years. I cannot tell you how important it is to have good and trustworthy builders to build you a home.The stress of it all but that’s the next blog post.

The key thing working with people is showing a little bit of kindness and understanding. When I come from a place of kindness it can go along way no matter which country you are at or whom you are dealing with. Kindness, understanding and patience is always a way.