Every extra interview round costs you candidates. In the current Indian job market, strong applicants receive multiple offers, and the employer who decides first often wins. Yet hiring mistakes are expensive too. The answer is a process that is fast and structured — not fast and careless.
The Two-Plus-One Structure
- Screening call, 10 to 15 minutes — confirm basics: expectations in INR, notice period, location, core skill check
- Main interview, 45 to 60 minutes — skills assessment plus role discussion, ideally with the direct manager present
- Optional final round — only for senior roles or when two candidates are genuinely tied; for most positions, decide after round two
Aim to complete all rounds within seven to ten days of first contact.
Structured Beats Improvised
Ask every candidate for the same role the same core questions, and score each answer against agreed criteria before discussing opinions. Structured interviews are consistently better at predicting job performance than unstructured conversations, and they protect you from hiring the most confident talker instead of the most capable worker.
Questions That Reveal Ability
- Walk me through how you handled a specific difficult situation in your last role
- A short practical task: a sales pitch roleplay, a Tally entry, a design critique, a code snippet review
- What would you do in your first 30 days here?
Respect Creates Acceptances
Confirm interview timings on call and message, start on time, and communicate outcomes within two or three days — including rejections. Candidates talk, and your conduct becomes your reputation on the portal and beyond. When you make the offer, share the letter quickly and stay in touch until joining day; silent gaps between offer and joining are where candidates disappear.
Post your next role on Urgent Hiring and put this process to work.
