Business owners and managers are often expected to conduct employment interviews. Being able to hire the right person for the job is critical to the success of any business. Here are a few basic interviewing tips. *Look for patterns of past behavior. The most effective way to predict someone's future behavior is to look at his or her history. * Don't lead the candidate. If you offer too many details about the position too quickly in the interview, the candidate will be able to tailor his or her responses to suit the description--leaving you without the information you need to decide if the person is really right for the job. * Address specific job needs. Let the candidate apply his or her past experience to the requirements of the job under discussion. For example, "Members of our customer service department sometimes have to deal with angry callers. Can you tell me about a time when you had to speak to an unhappy customer? What did you do?"* Listen. Does the candidate really listen to your questions? Does the person answer directly and clearly, or try to evade the question or change the subject?* Pay attention to the candidate's own questions. What do they tell you about his or her priorities and concerns? * Organize your notes immediately after the interview. If you're talking to several candidates, remembering each one distinctively will be tough without notes.