The Key Questions to Ask During a Job Interview to Pick the Right Candidate
Recruiting top talent is crucial for any organization, but determining if a candidate will thrive in your company is always a challenge!
Brian Chesky, the Founder of Airbnb, interviewed candidates personally until the company reached 1,000 employees. This dedication highlights the importance of direct involvement in the hiring process.
However, identifying the right fit is the hard part! It’s essential to ask questions that not only uncover the skills you’re looking for but also reveal intangibles such as attitude, ambition, creativity, and vision. These questions can help determine whether a candidate will be a valuable contributor and fit well within the company culture.
Smiling and making eye contact during the interview can convey many messages. While a candidate’s past experience is easy to see on their resume, their attitude is not. That’s why I focus more on getting to know the person rather than just their professional background.
We searched LinkedIn and Twitter networks for the best interview questions to identify an ideal candidate, and the responses were overwhelming. Here are 20 essential questions to help you better understand the candidate and make the right hiring decision:
1. What is the best thing life has given you?
This question helps break the ice and understand the candidate’s values, fears, and motivations.
2. Describe your best day at work.
This reveals what motivates the candidate and when they feel most fulfilled at work.
3. What is the most professionally risky thing you have ever done?
If you need a creative person, they should be willing to take risks. Look for enthusiasm in their response.
4. Tell me about the last experience you liked the most with a client and why.
This shows their intuition, attention to detail, and understanding of the importance of customer relationships.
5. If you had an infinite budget, what would you invest in the company and how would customers notice it?
This question assesses their vision, values, and strategic thinking.
6. Why do you want to join our company and do this job?
Understand what they value about your company and what motivates them.
7. What are you going to contribute to our company?
See if they have prepared for the interview and understand what they aim to achieve.
8. Have you been lucky in life?
Optimistic people who see their experiences positively are often more resilient and motivated.
9. If you could decide what to work on, what would it be?
This helps identify their true passions beyond their current career path.
10. What will you do to come every day motivated and with an attitude of improvement?
Look for candidates who stay motivated and positive, especially in challenging situations.
11. How do you imagine your life and work in 5 years?
Gauge their long-term vision and commitment to growing with the company.
12. How would you communicate your job change to your current company?
This reveals their professionalism and respect for their current employer, indicating how they might leave your company in the future.
13. What kind of people do you like to work with?
Understand their values and what they admire in team members.
14. How would you correct an attitude or behavior in a person who is not getting results?
Assess their approach to handling difficult situations and providing constructive feedback.
15. How would you recognize the effort and results of a colleague or collaborator?
Determine if they understand the importance of motivation and acknowledgment within a team.
16. What was your worst client? What happened?
Learn how they handle challenging situations and disagreements with clients.
17. Tell me something you think you’re right about and hardly anyone agrees with you.
Inspired by Peter Thiel, this question identifies innovative and independent thinkers.
18. What does your mother think of you, both good and bad?
Mothers often provide an honest and unique perspective on a person’s character.
19. What mistakes have you made in your professional life and what have you learned from them?
This question assesses their self-awareness, ability to learn from mistakes, and growth mindset.
20. If we tell you that you are not selected this time, what will you do the next day?
Look for persistence and a strong desire to join your company.
Understanding if a candidate will integrate well with your team’s values and culture is crucial. As Google suggests, look for individuals who can ask new questions and explore new paths, not just those who can answer prepared questions. Just like a lion cannot thrive in the Arctic, not everyone can succeed in every environment. Choose wisely!
