Interview questions to ask candidates - and what their answers mean

Get the most out of an interview by asking the right types of question.

3 mins read
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about 1 year ago

During an interview, it's crucial to ask questions that will help you gain the most insight into the candidate. To achieve this, you should plan a variety of question types that are tailored to the qualities required for the position. The questions should provide you with information about the candidate's strengths, weaknesses, and how well they would fit into the team. Here are some of the primary question types to consider when conducting an interview.

Standard competency questions

There are certain types of questions that are commonly asked during an interview. These questions typically start with a phrase like "Can you give me an example of when you...". You can customize these questions to fit the specific skills you want the candidate to talk about, such as providing excellent customer service, resolving a conflict, or influencing a senior stakeholder. Competency-style questions are particularly helpful when you need to find out about specific skills or competencies that a candidate has and how they have used them to handle similar situations in the past. Good candidates usually prepare for these questions in advance and should provide well-thought-out examples that are clear and concise. When analyzing their responses, look for evidence that they can describe the situation, the task at hand, the action they personally took, and the positive outcome of that action using the STAR method.

Follow-up question

Asking follow-up questions can help you move beyond the superficial answers and dive deeper into the specifics. It can also challenge the interviewee to think on their feet, as they may not be as prepared for these questions. Effective follow-up questions can uncover any gaps in the provided answers or any lack of personal involvement that may be concealed by rehearsed responses.

The curveball question

If you want to evaluate a candidate's quick thinking and critical thinking skills, you can present them with a challenging question or scenario that may not be directly related to the job they are applying for. You can base this question on some aspect of their resume or something current that you would like them to provide insight on. Doing this will help you test their ability to make sound decisions under pressure and to communicate their thoughts effectively, which can be crucial for some positions.

The hypothetical situation question

Some people have strong opinions on these types of questions - they either enjoy them or despise them. Nevertheless, they are a useful way to swiftly assess someone's ability to think logically and rationally. Such questions usually require the candidate to analyze a hypothetical situation and then make a decision based on the relevant information and limitations given. Some people have strong opinions on these types of questions - they either enjoy them or despise them. Nevertheless, they are a useful way to swiftly assess someone's ability to think logically and rationally. Such questions usually require the candidate to analyse a hypothetical situation and then make a decision based on the relevant information and limitations given.

The “describe yourself” question

In a job interview, candidates are often asked questions that require them to describe themselves in a few words or imagine what their previous boss or co-workers would say about them. These questions come in different forms, but their purpose is to evaluate the candidate's ability to empathize with others and express themselves succinctly. They are used to test the candidate's communication skills and see how they respond in situations that demand brevity.

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