What did you like most about (a job on their resume)? What did you like least about this job?Īnswers to these questions are very telling about candidates’ motivation, personality and potential cultural fit. How do you like to be managed?Īsking this question helps hiring managers understand the level of responsibility that candidates are comfortable with, and will ultimately allow them to determine if their management style matches candidate expectations. The answer to this question can tell hiring managers a lot about the type of culture that candidates respond well to, as well as how they’re motivated to work. What was the best job you’ve had and why? Leslie Lockhart, 10 years of recruiting and management experience, Twitter: 4. Are they naturally confrontational, quiet and secretly stewing or balanced when it comes to conflict? If they cannot give you an example, they may be hiding something. I like this question because it gives hiring managers insight into how candidates handle conflict at work. You can expand on this further by asking about a disagreement with a superior and/or a colleague. Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement at work and how you handled it. Lynn Brothers, 16 years of recruiting experience If candidates have worked for the company in the past, hiring managers will need to check rehire eligibility. Have you worked for our company in the past? When a certain level of experience is necessary for a role, hiring managers may want to proceed with caution if candidates aren’t able to speak fluently about their relevant experiences. With enough time and a job description or job ad, anyone can put together a résumé that looks good, but only those with real-world experience will be able to provide details.Īmy Caston, 16 years of recruiting experience, Twitter: Texas 2. (e.g., “I’m always great with the customers.” Or, “I have good sales numbers.”) If candidates speak in generalities and cannot give specific examples, they may not have the applicable experience. (e.g., “I’ve been in the President’s Club five years in a row, and my new sales for last year increased 152% over the prior year.” Or, “Just last week I had a call from a customer with whom we had made billing errors two months in a row.”) If candidates can give a specific example for the scenario, this helps ensure that they do truly have the experience needed for the job. I always ask applicable, open-ended questions, with regard to the industry and the role, beginning with “Tell me about…”, such as “Tell me about the top sales awards/accolades that you received for your sales performance” or “Tell me about a time when you had to calm an unhappy customer.” Here’s their take on 16 interview questions they believe should always be asked. We reached out to our team of experienced recruiters to help you with this daunting task. What interview questions should you ask to get the answers you need, and why? You’ll want to walk into the interview room feeling prepared, and walk out with a better understanding of the candidate’s potential at your company. Coming up with the right interview questions to make the best hiring decision for your business can create a lot of pressure and stress.