For anyone preparing to attend appointments to discuss professional opportunities, there are endless resources online and in just about any library. For those conducting the meetings, however, the information is a bit more limited. At Atlas Promotions, we think it’s crucial that hiring managers are just as prepared as their candidates. With that in mind, we offer the following tips:

• Identify What You Want: Don’t simply schedule appointments because you need to fill a role. Before you even advertise the opportunity, take some time to determine which traits, skills, and experiences you’d like in a new executive. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your time – and risking a hire that may not work out.

• Help People Do Well: Although it’s important to challenge people with thought-provoking questions, we at Atlas Promotions remind you not to set anyone up for failure. Be clear about the structure of the appointment. Explain who will be in attendance and what your expectations are. Don’t throw any curveballs unless they’re truly needed to determine the right fit for the role.

• Frame It as a Discussion: There’s really no need for the appointment to be stiff and formal. If you do what you can to put the other person at ease, and make the meeting a conversation instead of an interrogation, you’ll encourage the individual’s true colors to shine.

Use these tips from Atlas Promotions to make the right addition to your team.