An important component of job interviews is keeping the candidates calm and at ease – and ready to show their true selves. And setting is an important factor in establishing this rapport.

These guidelines for setting up an interview room (including some tips from police interrogators) will help you get the most out of your interviews – and your candidates.

Step 1: Choose a setting

Your interview room helps to set the tone for your entire relationship. The exact setting will depend on your company, and on the role you’re hiring for.

For example, if you work in a rigidly hierarchical industry, like banking, you may have to keep the candidate relatively sequestered. Same for a role that emphasizes confidentiality, like software development.

Or, if the role you’re filling is one that demands careful presentation, like a sales executive, you’ll want to see how candidates carry themselves in a more formal setting, like a boardroom.

If, on the other hand, your organization (and the role itself) is more casual and collaborative, you’ll want your candidate’s experience to reflect that. In these cases, an open lounge setting, one with comfortable upholstered seating and no barriers between you, tends to put candidates most at ease.

This can be a good opportunity to show off your company’s many perks, and to introduce potential hires to the people they’d be working with.

For two more steps in setting up an interview room, read the full article here: How to set up an interview room.

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