Favorite Interview Questions
HRH
83 Posts
I would love to compile a list of great interview questions from you "Pro's." Anyone willing to share???
HRH
83 Posts
Comments
2. Who was your worst boss and why?
These can be very revealing!!
Good Luck!
~Kim
Also: What motivates you? What can you bring to this job? What are you looking for in an employer? The old standby: Do you have any other skills or qualifications that may not be reflected on the application?
Linda
Everyone is prepared to tell you "bang, bang, bang", what their strengths are, but weaknesses catches them every time. I just lean back, laugh inside and wait for a response.
"Well, tell me about yourself."
"Tell me where you hope to be in three years, career-wise."
"Do you see yourself as a team player?"
"If you're selected for this position, what do you plan to bring to the table?"
"Tell me about a time when you really got angry with a co-worker and how you handled that situation."
These types of meaningless questions are only good for finding out what a creative BS artist your candidate is. If he's not a BS artist, you'll judge him as not particularly creative. If he IS one, he'll trick you into thinking he's the best candidate.
>
>"Well, tell me about yourself."
>
>"Tell me where you hope to be in three years,
>career-wise."
>
>"Do you see yourself as a team player?"
>
>"If you're selected for this position, what do
>you plan to bring to the table?"
>
>"Tell me about a time when you really got angry
>with a co-worker and how you handled that
>situation."
>
>These types of meaningless questions are only
>good for finding out what a creative BS artist
>your candidate is. If he's not a BS artist,
>you'll judge him as not particularly creative.
>If he IS one, he'll trick you into thinking he's
>the best candidate.
I agree 100%! I find that so many interviewers (non-HR interviewers, of course!)work very hard to come up with tricky questions, or thought provoking questions, but then do not know what to do with the answers or how to evaluate them!
2. Why are you HERE?
3. What is it about us that attracted you to come here?
4. We do background checks here. Tell us what your previous employers are going to tell us about you.
5. What will your previous employers tell us about your safety record and how you followed safety rules? (More times than not, the applicant will reveal any previous work comp injuries at this point.)
I agree with Don, the tell me about yourself question doesn't EVER bring any useful information to me. The above question can bring out qualitities that we have not inquired about and shows me where the person 'thinks' his/her strong points are.
I did mock interviews for high school students and was impressed that I heard an answer to a question that was better than any other I have heard from those in the job market. The question was "What do you expect from your supervisor" and her answer was "to have leadership skills, be a lead and a role model in the organization". I am wondering who taught her that, it was good!
Arthur: It is 'Arthur', King of the Britons.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your quest?
Arthur: To seek the Holy Grail.
Bridgekeeper: What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Arthur: What do you mean? An African or European swallow?
Bridgekeeper: Huh? I-- I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh!
Bedevere: How do know so much about swallows?
Arthur: Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
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#1 thing a consultant shouldn't say: "I could tell you the answer right now, but we're committed to a three month project..." #-o
#1 thing a consultant shouldn't say: "I could tell you the answer right now, but we're committed to a three month project..." #-o
When they tell you what it is, like too quiet or a pushover, then you can ask why people have that view about them.
2) Tell me about a decision you made but would have done differently, and why.
This one always makes them stop and think. It doensn't necessarily have to be a wrong decision, but maybe they could have handled it better. I usually get pretty good responses to this one.
I also like to ask them to tell me a recent success story they have about an especially difficult employee.
Some of the ones I ask (and depending on the position I am interviwing for):
What values are important in the workplace?
What is your personal motto/mantra?
What is your problem-solving style?
How important is a sense of humor at work?
I get some startling answers which then allow me to pose additions questions i.e. Tell me about, discuss how, describe when, etc.
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I hate the "what are your weaknesses question". If you want to ask it, fine, but at least phrase it so it doesn't sound so negative.
In what areas do you feel you need improvement?
A weakness is not being able to resist the candy bar in your desk drawer - an area that you can improve in is employee communications.
And I think if you phrase the question with the word weakness, people generally think that it has to be some awful character flaw or a bad habit. It's just so negative.
Always goes over well, and really is that a weakness? :-)
My $0.02 worth
The Balloonman
In today's world with the internet and all those books published, with the correct answers no less, interviewing has become an art. All we are trying to do is determine if this applicant fits the position available. I guess the next step for HR people is reading tea leaves.