Be a great interviewer

Being a great interviewer is about identifying the best candidate, ensuring they fit with us and showcasing what it means to Be Iceland. It’s a competitive candidate market, so delivering a great candidate experience is essential in attracting the best people. They might decide if the job is right for them based on their interview. Done badly, it could waste your time, create a poor image of Iceland and mean we lose a great person.

This guide will help you be confident, be clear and Be Iceland when you’re interviewing.

How to Be Iceland

When you talk Iceland, keep things simple and try to inject some of our famous personality! Don’t be shy, shout about why working here is so great. Let candidates know about all the great things we do to show we care about our colleagues, our customers and our environment.

As a Hiring Manager, you’ve got the autonomy to make the final decision so consider what makes your department, your store and your area a great place to work and tell them all about it! We want the candidate to leave the interview feeling energised, inspired and excited at the prospect of joining Iceland.

Please use the arrows below to click through each slide.

1

Be proud of who we are and what we stand for. Show that you care.

2

Be authentic. We’re different from the stuffy, boring corporates. Avoid jargon and inject some of your personality into the process. Be yourself and be friendly.

3

We hire people who are hard-working and have pride and passion for their work. Think about why you enjoy working for the business and ask yourself why the candidate will enjoy working for you?

4

We establish who is the right fit for Iceland based on skills and behaviours, not just gut feel.

5

We have all different kinds of backgrounds and personalities that work for our business, so remember to consider each individual on their own personal merits and what they could bring to your team.

6

We’re a fast paced business and our recruitment process needs to reflect this from the start. Think about the part you play in getting feedback to the recruitment/candidate quickly.

7

Be honest and transparent. Both in terms of how you deliver the interview and provide feedback.

8

Be passionate

Be prepared

Here’s what you should do before the interview.

Get to
know the
candidate

Read the candidate’s online application/CV and write down anything you want to ask them about. Is there any key achievements you want to talk about or gaps between employment, etc.

Know
the role

Clearly explain what the role is. Be honest about the current challenges, whilst also selling the role.

Organise
the room

Nobody wants to walk into a mess! The room should be presentable and remember to make sure you’re able to both sit comfortably, facing each other.

Be prepared
for questions

Think about the questions the candidate might ask and how you’ll answer them (for example, shift patterns, rates of pay, holidays, etc).

Let the
team know

Let your team know that you’re interviewing to limit any interruptions.

Is it a
virtual
interview?

All these tips still apply. But also remember to test the tech before the interview to make sure it’s all working correctly.

When you meet

First impressions count, so put the candidate at ease and you’ll get a true reflection of who they really are. You’ll give them a great impression of yourself and of Iceland as a place to work. Be prepared with the following tips to get your interview off to the best possible start.

1. Break the ice, ask them how their journey was, talk about the weather etc.

2. Make sure the candidate is comfortable and feels welcome. Remember to offer them a drink.

3. Introduce yourself and anyone else they might meet.

4. You must ask for right to work documentation.

5. You must describe the interview structure and what will happen.

6. You must let them know that you’ll be taking notes.

Best practice

Keep eye contact with the candidate, no one wants to see the top of your head!

Be clear and concise.

Be prompt and stick to timings as much as possible. Try not to over-run!

Everyone should have the chance to shine regardless of what your first impression of them might be.

Whilst taking notes

Be factual. Not personal.

Be objective. Ensure a balanced view point.

Be concise. Capturing the relevant points and evidence you need to make a decision.

Be engaging. Actively listen to the candidate.

Be fair. Notes should correspond to your final scoring of the interview.

Be professional and organised. Candidates may request to see your notes.

Closing the interview

Ask the candidate if they have any further questions.

Let the candidate know what the next steps are and be sure to follow up.

Thank them for attending the interview.

Make sure all their documents are safely stored away.

Remember to show your passion for Iceland right up until the candidate leaves. That way, they will leave with a great impression.

Making a decision

Whether it’s a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ for the candidate you’ve just interviewed the process isn’t finished quite yet.
There are two final steps you must ensure to follow:

1

For Deeside roles notify the Recruitment Team of your decision within 48 hours of the interview. For store positions notify the candidate directly.

2

Record the feedback you can offer the candidates, especially if they've been unsuccessful to help them in the future.