This is the most comfortable interview I've ever had.

For me, it's incredibly gratifying and important! Why?

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Personally, I don't like stressful interviews (does anyone practice them?). I believe that it's impossible to open up and showcase one's strengths when under stress. The interview itself can be discomforting, and my task as an HR professional is to "evaluate" the candidate, which is only possible when they are in a comfortable zone.

I've encountered elements of stress interviews myself several times when I was searching for a job. Sometimes it happened involuntarily. I have a rule: if I don't like how the interview is conducted, it means that the company is not the right fit for me. I've also been in situations where I was deliberately put under stress (the recruiter even mentioned it at the end of the interview). Not only did it involuntarily make me close up during the conversation, but it also strongly repelled me from the company. By the way, I received an offer from that company, which I promptly rejected.

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Here are a few of my personal observations about how to put candidates at ease:

• It all starts BEFORE the interview. Therefore, I behave politely from the outset, responding promptly to messages, providing information about the vacancy during the correspondence, answering all questions, etc. This sets the tone and mood for the candidate before the interview even begins.

• When possible, I communicate in a friendly manner ("you" form), and I try to address the candidate by their name more frequently (hearing their name creates a positive emotion).

• I explain the structure of the interview and its stages. People feel more relaxed when they are aware of the situation they are in.

• Before asking questions, I provide information about the company, the vacancy, and the team—everything the candidate needs to know at this stage. This greatly relaxes the candidate since they already know more about us, and they feel that the company is open and friendly from the start.

• I avoid conducting interrogations. I always remember that an interview is, above all, a dialogue. When I look at an interview from this perspective, I build communication in a way that the candidate feels like we are on the same wavelength, equals.

• I am mindful of my nonverbal expressions. I smile, nod, and show in my behavior that I am genuinely enjoying the conversation.

• And perhaps most importantly, people sense emotions very well. I feel very comfortable working with technical specialists (our interviews are typically joint with a technical specialist), and overall, I feel great in the company. This feeling is palpable and puts the candidates at ease. People can see when HR is passionate and loves their work, loves the company. This creates a positive atmosphere.