We’ve started a new practice here at the City of Eden Prairie when we select new employees. We call it “Peer Interviews”.
Peer Interviewing represents another way the City is incorporating the Performance Partnership into our daily operations. The goal is to educate candidates during the selection process about the shared expectations for staff and to ensure that the candidates have qualities necessary to fit into our organizational culture.
Here is an actual Peer Interview team. L-R: Kathy Hoogenakker (Finance), Mary Krause (Engineering), and Brenda Uting (Parks & Recreation). They are preparing to Peer Interview the finalist candidates for a vacant Communications Associate position.
We have stocked our Peer Interview teams with employees who understand and exemplify the values of our Performance Partnership. We had a number of employees who volunteered to be a part of the Peer Interview teams because they wanted to help bring talented people into our organization. They understand that more talented people in our organization means that our organization will be better. That’s in everyone’s interest.
After completing their interview training in March, Peer Interviewers have assisted with the selection processes for Assistant Liquor Store Manager, Telecommunicator (public safety dispatcher), Communications Associate, and Facilities Engineer. The Peer Interview Teams question finalists about their previous experience relative to each of the City�s shared expectations: customer focus, flexibility, initiative, public stewardship, results orientation, and teamwork.
Overall, Peer Interviewers and managers report being pleased with the new process. Our Facilities Manager, Paul Sticha, said, �It was great to have another group looking at the candidates from another perspective. I was very impressed with the caliber of the feedback I received from the peer group. After the entire process, I felt confident that I had the right information to make a good hiring decision.�
Peer Interviewing is one more way we are trying to provide excellent customer focus and customer service to our citizens and customers by paying close attention to the front end of our employee selection process. We believe that getting the right people into the right places will help us reach that goal.
It’s also the smart thing to do.
