Interviewing candidates for a position in your firm might be seem simple enough but there are a number of vital steps that need to be taken to make sure that you hire the right person for the job straight out of the gate.

The cost of hiring the wrong person can be enormous not only in monetary terms but also in lost possibility and stress. The good news is there are a few tips you can follow to master the hiring experience.

Being prepared is the most important thing you can do when conducting an interview. A surprising amount of interviewers turn up completely unprepared and do not make a good impression on the candidate.

Being prepared is not difficult-it just entails knowing what questions you want to ask, having read the candidate’s resume beforehand and being ready to discuss your firm as well as ask questions. It is also a good idea to allow for some measure of discomfort in the candidate.

An interview is a stressful experience so give a candidate enough time to form their thoughts when asking a question that allows for more than just a yes or no answer.