I always pride myself on being reasonably perceptive and streetwise when it comes to people, but sometimes we all get it wrong. Sometimes the best interviewee ends up not being a suitable candidate for a job.

Before interviewing anyone, make sure you know what you want. Start by preparing a one page job spec for the position. It’s like anything – you need to know what you want before you purchase.

Next assemble an interview panel. I find three is the ideal number, including yourself. Pick people who have different qualities and expertise than yourself. Have at least one other person who understands the role and the organisational structure.

On the day of the interview give yourself lots of time to interview the candidate. Study their CVs in advance and look out for anything that doesn’t stack up.

Make notes on the CV before even meeting the candidate. First impressions are hugely important. Is the candidate dressed appropriately for the position? Have they made an effort to impress? Have they prepared properly - do they know your business? 

At the interview observation is critical. Listen and observe more than you speak. Don’t make the mistake of talking too much. Look at body language when the person is answering  questions about their past. You need to ascertain just how good they are and if they are the right type of person to work in your business.

Round Two

Often for the second interview it can be useful to ask the shortlist of candidates to prepare a piece of work. This should not be too onerous but it does show you an idea of the skill level of the candidate as it pertains to a specific challenge in your business. When you give a number of potential candidates the same task it is useful tool – you can benchmark and evaluate the performance in a uniform way. 

Finally, when you are ready to appoint your selected candidate take the time to reference check them – both formally and informally.

Don’t be lazy here, take the time to do the job yourself. Often when talking to a previous employer directly, you will be able to find out more from what is not being said.

You won’t always get it right but if you follow some of the principles above your strike rate should improve exponentially.

If you’re on the other side of the table, here are some interview tips which you should try to implement:

1.     Prepare- Take the time to know the company, the job and what you can contribute. This really shows in an interview

2.     Timing – It might sound basic, but you'd be surprised! Give yourself more time than you need. Don’t arrive flustered!

3.     First impressions – You only get one shot, so make the effort, dress well, make eye contact and put your best foot forward.

4.     Be authentic – You’re nervous but do what you can to show your personality, your unique skills and what makes you a good candidate.

5.     Don’t panic – Take your time when answering questions. Don’t panic and start babbling, especially if it’s a difficult question! Compose yourself, sometimes just taking an extra second can allow you to get your thoughts together and help you to answer the question as best you can.

Good luck out there!

Read more advice from Bobby on www.bobbykerr.com - and hear Bobby live on Down to Business from 11am, every Saturday on Newstalk.

Highlights, podcasts and more blog posts can be found on the show's page.