66 Conducting the Interview Begin by outlining the process. Explain the sequence of events that will happen in the interview. Refrain from defining the amount of time you will spend. If things are not going well after 15 minutes into a 45-minute interview, it may be difficult to end if you have stipulated the time as 45 minutes. 2 Keep an open mind. Your first impression of a candidate is usually lasting, but don't let it overshadow everything else in the interview. Some very good candidates may be nervous and give a less than positive impression until they relax. Let the candidate do the talking. Refrain from talking so much about the job or company that the candidate gets little opportunity to share personal information. The more people talk, the more insight you gain into their personalities. Be careful not to explain questions as you're asking them. You may give away the answer without knowing it. Stick to short, open-ended questions such as, "How do you describe your leadership style?" Remain attentive. When you are conducting a series of interviews, it is easy to get distracted by other concerns or by fatigue. Do not let boredom