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Learn Some of the Best Questions to Ask an Interviewee

It’s just as important for you to prepare for a job interview as it is for your candidate. After all, this conversation is your chance to determine whether an applicant would be a good fit for your open position and your organization.

The questions you ask are key to nailing these answers and ultimately making the right hiring decision. They’ll help reveal the true core of a candidate, regardless of your industry. And, the best questions also benefit job seekers by allowing them to speak to details that may not have fit on their resume.

So, craft your list of questions carefully, thoughtfully, and strategically. You may want to start with:

  • What one skill makes you the best person for this job?
  • Candidates who are prepared and right for the role will love this chance to shine. Those who aren’t are more likely to stumble or try to cobble together some generic response. Either way, you get to hear more about what the individual considers their top core competencies and confirm that they have an appropriate understanding of what the position entails.

  • Can you describe a time when you successfully overcame a challenge?
  • Behavioral questions are an effective way to better understand how a candidate’s experience translates from paper to the real world. Getting a grasp on how they tackle difficult circumstances will help you zero in on the best fit for the role and your team.

  • How would you describe your working style?
  • You want to build a diverse team, but you also need to ensure that new hires will work in a way that meshes with the way things already operate. For instance, do they prefer a collaborative approach or to work more independently? Do they perform best with a lot of direction, or are they more of a self-starter?

  • Why are you leaving your current job?
  • Posing this question will give you greater insight into a candidate’s professional history. It will also help confirm their honesty and integrity, both must-have qualities in every new hire. Watch for the red flag of an applicant complaining about or bad-mouthing a previous employer: not what you’re looking for when it comes to teamwork or professionalism.

  • What one skill would you like to improve, and what’s your plan to do that?
  • This is a different twist to the standard “what’s your biggest weakness?” question – with a more positive spin. Rather than asking an interviewee to point out a flaw, you’re giving them a chance to discuss areas of growth and improvement.

    At PrideStaff, all our services are designed to match leading employers in Modesto and beyond with the best active and passive talent on the market. Whether your needs are for temporary, temp-to-hire, or permanent full-time staff placements, you can count on us in areas including administration, customer service, IT, finance, legal support, healthcare, and production and distribution. Contact us today to learn more.

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