Hiring the right employee can move your business forward—while the wrong hire can cost time, money, and momentum. In this interactive webinar, learn how to interview and hire “like a boss” by identifying the skills, behaviors, and competencies that truly predict success.

Presented by Kelly Gust, President of HR Full Circle, this session will provide practical tools to help you improve your interviewing process from start to finish. You’ll learn how to ask better questions, avoid common legal and practical pitfalls, and create a strong candidate experience that reflects positively on your organization.

This webinar also qualifies for reimbursement through the City of Champaign New Business Grant Program. Program awardees who attend will receive a certificate to submit with their reimbursement forms.

🧾 What You’ll Learn:
How to assess candidates’ knowledge, skills, and abilities
Interview questions that reveal true job competencies
Best practices for conducting effective, professional interviews
Questions you should avoid asking during interviews
How to present and negotiate a job offer confidently
Why the candidate experience matters—and how to get it right

📅 Date: Monday, January 26, 2026
🕛 Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Virtual Webinar
💲 Cost: Free
🔗 Registration: https://researchpark.illinois.edu/all-events/calendar/
Advance registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar.
Please note: This webinar will be recorded and may be shared publicly. By registering, you acknowledge that questions or comments shared during the session may be included in the recording.

👩‍💼 About the Presenter:
Kelly Gust is the President of HR Full Circle and brings over 20 years of experience helping organizations improve hiring, onboarding, leadership, and employee engagement. Her career includes roles with companies such as Starwood Hotels and Hot Topic. Kelly currently serves as an HR Expert-in-Residence at the University of Illinois Research Park/EnterpriseWorks, is active in community leadership organizations, and is a monthly columnist for the Springfield Business Journal.

This webinar is ideal for business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs who want to build stronger teams through smarter, more effective hiring practices.