What Are Good Questions To Ask In An Interview?

If it’s time to fill a vacancy in your organization, you have to do your work properly to make sure that the person you bring on board is the right fit. Whichever position you want to fill, you have to choose a candidate who has all the right skills and the necessary professional experience.

But is it possible to find the right candidate for the position from just a single interview? Yes, it is possible, if you ask the right questions. Asking the right interview questions is a skill that you can either learn in school or acquire through practice and mentorship. It is also part of the most effective leadership styles and communication skills that every manager should have. In this article, you will learn the best questions to ask in an interview.

Best Questions To Ask An Interviewee

What Do You Know About Our Organization, And Why Should We Hire You?

The first and most important thing you need to know about the interviewee is whether they have done their homework properly. Therefore, their answer to this question will show you how interested they are to get the job. With so many companies making their profiles readily available online, you would assume that interviewees would do their research before coming for the interview, but it is not always the case.

Don’t be surprised to learn that some of your applicants don’t even have an idea of what your organization does. By asking this question, you will quickly find out who is genuinely interested in working with you and who’s not.

What Skills And Strengths Will You Bring To This Position If Hired?

This question helps you to know if the interviewee applied to the position blindly or they honestly considered how their skills and experience match your requirements. A serious job applicant must take time to consider how their expertise and experience will benefit your organization.

Can You Tell Me About Your Current Or Previous Job?

This is an open-ended question that will help you to evaluate the interviewee’s communication skills and background. It will also help you understand their relationship with their previous employer.

What Could Your Current Company Do To Be More Successful?

This question will help you understand if the interviewee has the ability to see the big picture at their organization. This question will also help you to know why they want to leave their current workplace.

Can You Tell Me About A Time When You Disagreed With Your Boss Or Colleague And How You Handled The Situation?

By asking your interviewee this question, you can easily know if they have any experience in conflict resolution. Consider the tone of their voice when describing the other person involved. That way, you will know if they are respectful. Also, consider whether they were able to handle the situation professionally. Ask yourself: did they find a common ground and exhibit emotional intelligence when handling the situation?

Do You Work Best Alone Or On A Team?

This question depends on the kind of tasks the successful candidate will be performing. Therefore, their answer will help you determine if they are suited to the role. For instance, if the interviewee thrives in an environment where they do solitary work and engage in long stretches of uninterrupted time, they may not be the best candidate for a position that involves collaboration and multitasking.

Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?

This question will help you to determine whether your organization can provide the interviewee with a solution to the problems they encountered at their previous place of work. For instance, if they are leaving their current job due to lack of professional development or management problems, you have to ask yourself if your organization is the best solution. You will also know if the candidate has unrealistic expectations.

How Would Your Current Or Previous Boss And Coworkers Describe You?

This is an important interview question as it helps you to understand the interviewee’s soft skills and how they relate with other members of their team. It will also help you to understand the strengths of the interviewee and how they match with those of your current employees. Choose a candidate with strengths that complement those of your other team members.

Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?

This question will help you to know if the candidate has the professional drive and career aspirations. A good candidate should be fully engaged in their career and have clear and realistic goals. It also helps if they can talk about who they admire, as that can let you know if they understand how to find a good mentor for their growth. They should also let you know how they believe your organization will help them achieve their career goals.

How Do You Handle Tight Deadlines?

This question will help you know if the candidate can handle your organization’s challenging time constraints. You should also find out if they’ve ever missed a deadline, and if so, how they handled the situation.

Summary

In summary, the interview questions you ask your interviewees should be structured in a way that will help you understand the strengths, weaknesses, and potential of each candidate. They should also make your work of separating serious candidates from jokers easy.