Great interviews shape high-performing teams, strengthen company culture, and elevate your employer brand. As you plan your 2026 hiring strategy, now is the perfect time to refine how you approach interviews. Even the most experienced hiring managers can benefit from a refresher on connecting, assessing, and engaging candidates in meaningful ways.
Here’s how to start the new year with an interview process that builds stronger teams and leaves lasting impressions:
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Create a Standout Candidate Experience
A well-structured, engaging interview can be the deciding factor in a candidate’s decision to join your team. And it all starts with preparation. Research your candidate’s background so you can engage authentically and represent your organization as a true brand ambassador.
Set expectations upfront by outlining the interview structure, which helps keep the conversation on track and shows respect for the candidate’s time. During the conversation, eliminate distractions and focus entirely on the person in front of you. Asking about a candidate’s commute to the office or highlighting a shared connection are simple gestures that can put them at ease and encourage genuine conversation.
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Ask the Right Questions to Reveal Potential
To understand what makes each candidate unique, go beyond surface-level questions. Focus on uncovering motivators, drivers, and goals to determine whether someone will thrive in the role and within your team.
By the end of the interview, aim to learn about three key areas:
- Career Journey – Why they moved between roles, what drew them to your company, and key accomplishments along the way.
- Experience and Skills – The responsibilities they’ve handled, tools and systems they’ve used, and the impact they’ve made on previous teams.
- Motivation and Fit – What energizes them at work, their long-term aspirations, and what factors influence their career decisions.
Consider behavioral assessment tools to gain data-backed insights into cognitive strengths and natural work styles. Combined with structured interviews, skills assessments, and reference checks, these tools help match candidates to roles where they are most likely to succeed.
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Keep It Compliant while Staying Human
Strong interviews require curiosity, but it’s important to know where to draw the line. Some questions, even when well-intentioned, can create legal or ethical risks.
Avoid questions about:
- Age
- Personal or family life
- Nationality or ethnicity
- Religion, political affiliations, or sexual orientation
- Salary history (stay current with local pay equity and transparency laws)
Focusing on skills, experiences, and values ensures interviews remain fair, inclusive, and compliant.
Start 2026 with Confident Hiring
Refining your interview strategy today creates stronger hiring outcomes tomorrow. Thoughtful preparation, impactful conversations, and a positive candidate experience help you identify talent that will thrive within your company.
For additional insights and support, connect with Atrium’s HR Advisory Services experts.
Looking to elevate your interviews even further? Download our complimentary e-book, A Guide to Conducting Great Interviews, for proven strategies to help you hire the right people faster.
