The importance of the interview is stressed extensively to job seekers — but this meeting is every bit as important to employers. It's your most valuable hiring tool, and you should prepare for it as rigorously as a job seeker would.

The first step is to develop thorough job descriptions for the positions you want to fill. These will help you focus your search and identify the right questions to ask.

Schedule interviews during the least busy portions of your day, so that you can spend time getting to know the candidates — but be flexible. If an applicant is currently employed, he or she may need to meet with you off-hours.

This section offers tips on every aspect of interviewing, from evaluating resumes to the types of questions you should ask.