When conducting an interview, it’s important to know the right questions to ask. This is dependent on the role itself and on the level of seniority. However, there are a couple of questions you can ask your interviewee to get to know then better and to fully analyse if they would be a good match for the company.
This is a great open-ended question to assess the candidates communication skills while gaining insightful information into their professional background.
This will uncover the candidates critical thinking and organisation skills when making decisions.
This might seem like a simple question, but it can demonstrate a lot about the candidate. Not only will they share something that was a highlight for them, but it will also help you understand what type of work makes them feel fulfilled and proud.
This will give you insight on how the candidate interacts with other people and it might help determine if they are a good fit for the company.
When you ask this question, it’s important to pay close attention to how the candidate talks about their former job. If, for example, they are focusing on the positive aspects, shows the interviewees ability to show respect for their previous employer and workplace demonstrates their civility and professionalism, which are two essential attributes in any role.
This is one of the best interview questions to ask because it delves into specifics about the job role. It shows how carefully the candidate read the job description and how much research they have done into the company. It also provides a chance to share future goals and why they would be a good fit.
Everyone has something they could be better at. This is one of the most popular questions as you can learn a lot about a candidate. These include whether the candidate is self-aware enough to understand their weakness and if they are willing to admit them in an interview.
You also learn whether this weakness could conflict with the job requirements and gain an understanding of how the interviewee is working to improve on them.
Like addressing weaknesses, when a candidate talks about their strengths, it shows their level of self-awareness and humility. This also gives the applicant a chance to discuss how their best qualities align with the needs of the role and even demonstrate how they will use their strengths to help the company reach its goals.
This is a good test regarding interpersonal and communication skills. Everyone has experienced challenging circumstances at work, but the importance lies in how they resolved and dealt with the conflict. This question allows the candidate to tell you about how they perform under pressure and also discuss their problem-solving skills and ability to manage stress.
Job seekers carefully craft their resumes to provide the best summary of their professional experience, but you can’t learn everything about a candidate from what they put down on paper. This open-ended and vague question is designed to let the interviewee decide how they want to approach it. How they answer can tell you a lot about their personality and the type of employee they will be.
It’s important to remember that you’re hiring a person. This question isn’t a test where candidates try to match your interests; it’s an opportunity to learn more about who they are.
If you feel uncomfortable asking a question like this one during the more formal portion of the interview, work it into small talk before or after the interviews. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with that candidate on a more personal level, while also getting a more holistic view of what makes them tick.
This should be the last question you ask. This is meant to let the interviewee ask you questions, but it also shows their enthusiasm.