Even in an employers’ market hiring good employees is harder than ever for community association boards. It means finding qualified people, with the right credentials and experience, who can work effectively with association boards, members, and other staff. Conducting good interviews and then comparing and contrasting applicants based on criteria important to the community or the management company are key to the process.

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Simplify Employee Hiring Process
August 22, 2013
Even in an employers’ market hiring good employees is harder than ever for community
association boards. It means finding qualified people, with the right credentials and experience,
who can work effectively with association boards, members, and other staff. Conducting good
interviews and then comparing and contrasting applicants based on criteria important to the
community or the management company are key to the process. But by the time the interview
process is completed, it’s sometimes difficult to recall the details of the applicants’ responses to
make the best decision.
Using an interview form can help association boards effectively evaluate job applicants. An
interview form provides a list of key criteria on which to rate applicants, so that interviewers can
use it as a reminder of the information needed. It will prompt them to ask each applicant all of
the necessary questions. And it will help to ensure consistency when interviewing several
applicants for the same job. In addition, if an applicant claims that he or she was not hired
because of age, gender, or race discrimination, the forms may show that there was a valid
nondiscriminatory reason for not hiring the applicant. The form may also show that other
applicants were more qualified for the position. This may discourage the applicant from
continuing the claim or help to defeat the claim in court.
Completed interview forms can be used to create an application database. This database could
be invaluable if the association has a similar opening later. For example, if several applicants
who interviewed for a manager position meet the requirements, their forms can be saved for
future consideration. Then the next time a similar position is available, the forms can be
reviewed, and one of the candidates can be contacted.
So what type of basic information should the interview form include? To get the right
information about applicants in order to make the most informed decision, the basic
information covered should include:
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 The applicant’s name and contact information. (If possible, interviewers should fill in
this information before the interview and then confirm it with the applicant.)
 A box to indicate the applicant’s willingness to travel and/or relocate. (That way,
interviewers will be reminded to describe any travel and relocation that the position
entails.)
 The position applicants are interviewing for. (That prompts the interviewer to ask
questions geared to the position.)
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