You’ve found some great candidates for a position that you’re trying to fill, and now it’s time to determine which of those candidates is the best fit for the job. It’s no secret that asking the right questions in an interview is critical when it comes to deciding which candidate is best. The better your questions, the more information you’ll be able to gather from each candidate, and the more information you have, the easier it’ll be to determine which candidate is best. To help you determine the best candidate for the job, we’ve put together a list of 7 questions you can ask the next time you hold interviews.
- Why are you leaving your current employer?
- This is a tough and tricky question for a candidate, but a good one. This question can help you determine whether the candidate is focused on leaving behind a particular aspect of their former/current occupation, if they are in pursuit of better and different career opportunities, or both. The answer the candidate gives to this question can give you a strong glimpse into the personality of the candidate, too. Are they hyper-focused on something negative (like a “bad” former boss) or are they more positive and optimistic (ex. looking for new projects so that they can expand their skillset)? Whatever the answer the candidate provides, the answer can tell you a lot about the candidate and what they are looking for (or trying to avoid) in their career moving forward.
- What excites you most about this position?
- Ideally, a potential employee will be enthusiastic about the opportunity to work for your company. Enthusiasm shows that they are genuinely interested and excited about the position they are interviewing for. On the other hand, if the candidate does not seem enthusiastic to be interviewing for the position, you run the risk of hiring someone who may not be happy at your company or in that position down the line. So by asking “what excites you most about this position?” you can gauge just how interested the employee is in the position itself. Does their response show that they seem excited and interested in the position? Or does their response seem hesitant and unsure? A candidate’s reaction to this question can tell you a lot about whether they genuinely desire the position they are interviewing for.
- What do you like to do outside of work?
- This is a great question to ask a candidate if you’re at all curious about who the candidate is outside of the office. Sure, you want to choose a candidate whose skillset aligns well with the job description, but you also want to hire someone who is relatable and will mesh well with your team. By asking this question, you can learn more about who the candidate is outside of working hours and get a better idea of the candidate’s personality, too.
- How would you describe your own personal working style?
- By asking this question, you can get a good idea of how the employee prefers to work on a daily basis. Is the candidate more autonomous, or do they rely on a manager to direct them with tasks throughout the day? Does the candidate’s working style mesh well with the work style of the office/team/manager of the position they’re interviewing for? It’s important to take the candidate’s work style preferences into consideration when determining if they would excel in the job they’re interviewing for.
- Why should we hire you?
- This is an opportunity for the candidate to prove to you that they are the right fit for the job. Do they seem to understand what will be required of them on the job? Are they confident in their abilities to fulfill the duties of the job description? Does their reasoning sound convincing? You can get a great idea of whether this candidate is the right fit for the job based on what they do or do not say in response to this question.
- To date, what professional achievement of yours are you most proud of?
- This shows you what kind of accomplishments the candidate finds valuable and important. Is their achievement impressive? Work-related? Or do they talk about overcoming a personal conflict? The answer to this question should impress you, not raise any red flags. Bonus points for candidates who can relate their achievement to something in the job description for the position they are interviewing for.
- What questions do you have for me/us?
- A candidate who is genuinely interested in the position likely has some questions for you about the position and/or the company. Further, it is recommended that interviewees bring a set of questions with them to show that they have prepared for the interview. A candidate that does not have any questions may be disinterested in the position, or they simply did not prepare fully for the interview.
About Omada Search
Omada Search is a boutique executive recruiting firm dedicated to serving middle market manufacturing and distribution clients in the Carolinas. Omada specializes in Accounting, Finance and Operations. For further information on Omada, please visit www.omadasearch.com .
