Hiring Interview Questions To Ask

How Would You Describe Your Management Style

If youâre hiring for a role that involves managing others, itâs important to understand each candidateâs management style, how theyâd approach managing your employees, and how that approach to management fits in with your company culture. For example, if youâre interviewing a candidate that thinks people need to be micromanaged in order to do their best work â and your current team is used to the freedom to do their work however they see fit? Not the right fit.

Tell Me About A Time You Had To Manage A Particularly Heavy Workload How Did You Handle It

This is one of the best questions interviewers should ask because it reveals a candidates organizational and time management skills, as well as how they deal with stressful situations such as an increase in workload. Look for specific ways the candidate prioritizes a long list of tasks, adapts to new challenges and works with others to get the job done.

Questions About The Company

One important note here: Dont ask things that you can easily find with a quick Google search .

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What Fictional Character Are You And Why

What fictional character do you feel best represents you, and why?

When new hires answer this question, they are demonstrating quick and analytical thinking, creativity, and the ability to have a little fun. Their answer also provides insight into how they see themselves and their personality.

Claire Shaner manages the HR Software Blog at BestCompany.com.

What Motivates You To Work

It is a simple question but requires the interviewee to exhibit a great amount of thought and often unlocks valuable discussions from a candidate looking internally for what truly motivates them.

If they only answer at the surface level with something like I relish a challenge, this can convey that they are a less-than exceptional candidate.

You may need to probe further do extract a deeper understanding of their motivations.

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What Do You Do When A Decision Is Being Made That You Disagree With

Its impossible to please everybody all of the time, at work and in life. Conflict comes in many forms, and knowing how a candidate reacts when they disagree with a decision can reveal whether or not theyd be a good culture fit for the role or team theyll be working on.

Respectfully voicing a conflicting opinion can also demonstrate a level of interest and a sense of ownership in an outcome, which is a trait that can have many different advantages for your company.

Answer example:

I think its important to try to figure out why the other side thinks the way they do. Even if I dont agree with their perspective, trying to understand the reasoning behind it can be helpful. I also make an effort to communicate my why calmly and clearly and, when possible, suggest alternate solutions that might meet everyones needs. Ultimately, I listen and respond thoughtfully, accept the prevailing outcome, and move on.

Tell Me About Your Proudest Professional Accomplishment And Why This Achievement Is Significant To You

Asking behavioral interview questions about a candidates accomplishments is helpful for a few reasons. First of all, it gives the interviewee a chance to discuss how theyve applied their skills to achieve success. Second, it gives you insight into the sorts of projects they find meaningful and fulfilling. Third, it helps you assess whether they can share their wins while remaining humble and gracious. Consider whether they mention how their achievement provided value, who else was involved in the project and what they learned from the experience. Example Answer:A few years into my career in sales, I felt really confident in the team Id put together. I decided that this was the year we were going to use our skills to go above and beyond our sales goals, and by the end of Q4 wed achieved that goal. This achievement has always been important to me because it took me and my team so much to get there, and it showed that persistence really pays off.

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What Is Your Organizations Remote Work Policy

Remote work has become more common in recent years, and many companies are offering more remote or hybrid positions. It can be worth clarifying what a companyâs remote policy is and whether the company offers any flexibility if, for example, your child falls sick or you want to spend time with family across the country. Even if the job requires you to be in an office, companies may allow employees to work remotely a few days out of the year.

Suppose youâre interviewing for a remote position. In that case, you can ask about how the company ensures remote workers feel included in company culture or if there are any opportunities to meet coworkers in person throughout the year.

Smart Questions To Ask About The Interviewer

Asking these questions shows that youre interested in your interviewer as a personand thats a great way to build rapport with a future colleague.

• How long have you been with the company?
• Has your role changed since youve been here?
• What did you do before this?
• Why did you come to this company?
• Whats your favorite part about working here?
• Whats one challenge you occasionally or regularly face in your job?
• What part of your job are you most excited about over the next few months?
• Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects youre especially interested in?

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What Do The Most Successful New Hires Do In Their First Month Here

This question shows that you’re the type of person who likes to hit the ground running.

It also shows that you recognize patterns of success and want to replicate only the most effective performers.

How It Helps You

Every company has its weird nuances, its own environment, and its own unspoken expectations. This helps you start with a little bit of the insider info so you don’t suffer a case of “if I knew then what I knew now” in six months.

How Do You Handle Stress

How you handle stressful situations is an indicator of your ability to solve problems. Employers want to hire candidates who react to stress constructively, so its important that your answer to this question demonstrates personal growth.

Spend some time thinking about your response to stressful situations and provide an example that communicates your abilities around perseverance, resilience and stress management.

Example answer:Im able to stay calm when I focus on the bigger picture and break down my projects into smaller tasks. I always start by asking myself, What is the ultimate goal Im trying to achieve? From there, I make a list of immediate and long-term action items with achievable but ambitious deadlines. Even if the big project is due tomorrow, I ask myself, Whats something I can tackle in the next 30 minutes? Before I know it, Ive made significant progress and that impossible project doesnt seem so impossible.

Read more: Interview Question: How Do You Handle Stress?

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How Many Jellybeans Can Fit In A Suitcase

This is a guesstimate interview question that doesnt require an accurate answer. Instead, it gives candidates the chance to demonstrate their thought process. Pay attention to how a candidate attempts to solve the problem. Do they ask you additional clarifying questions? Do they break the problem down into smaller pieces? Ask them to think out loud to see their problem-solving skills in action.

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A job interview is your opportunity to get a feel for whether or not a candidate is qualified, but also if theyre someone with whom other employees would enjoy working and if they could contribute positively to your culture. By asking these questions, you can better assess both skill level and cultural add, which are two of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new hire.

Ethics And Integrity Behavioralinterview Questions

1. Is their a time when a teammate or client questioned your honesty? How did you react?

2. Tell me about a time when it was difficult to be honest because of the situation. What was your thought process?

3. Can you describe a time when you followed a rule that you didnt agree with?Why did you follow it? Explain how you felt.

4. Tell me about a time when a co-worker was doing something wrong. What did you do?

5. Have you ever been in a challenging situation at work where you were dishonest? What happened?

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Tell Me How You Think Other People Would Describe You

I hate this question. It’s a total throwaway. But I did ask it once, and got an answer I really liked.

“I think people would say that what you see is what you get,” the candidate said. “If I say I will do something, I do it. If I say I will help, I help. I’m not sure that everyone likes me, but they all know they can count on what I say and how hard I work.”

Can’t beat that.

How Would Your Previous Employer Rate You From 1

Our favorite line of questioning is the following:

This line of questioning has several uses. One, can they even get a reference? If yes, great. If no, why? No usually indicates an issue and definitely something I want to know about before considering hiring someone. I dont care how many HR policies are in place to prevent me from learning something of substance about this candidate if they were a rock star, their previous supervisor would want me to know. Bosses like helping their former superstar employees succeed and do well, so theres really no reason the answer to this question should ever be a no if the candidate is worthy of a second look.

Secondly, probing about what the supervisor would say about their work performance and how they might improve digs into the candidates emotional intelligence and ability to take another persons perspective, which usually translates well on the job in any interpersonal situation. It also challenges them to consider their weaknesses in front of an interviewer whom theyve typically been trained to only speak of their successes and accomplishments.

Founder and CEO of The Hire Talent, Fletcher Wimbush, has interviewed over 8,000 applicants.

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Questions About The Team

Why Are You Interested In This Position

Interviewers typically want to be sure that you applied for this job because youre genuinely interested in it. Avoid voicing concerns about your current position or companynegative comments about your employer are often interpreted as unprofessional. A good answer will positively frame your transition and communicate your desire to grow in the role youre interviewing for.

Research the role and company ahead of time to understand how it relates to your background. Ask yourself questions, such as How will this position help me advance in my career? or How does the position align with my future goals? and What makes me a good fit for this company or role?

Example answer:While I highly valued my time at my previous company, there are no longer opportunities for growth that align with my career goals. This position fits perfectly with my skill set and how Im looking to grow in my career. Im also looking for a position at a company like yours that supports underserved communities, which is a personal passion of mine.

Read more: Interview Question: “Why Are You Interested in This Position?”

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How Do You Read Me

In our business, we need to be perceptive and read people, usually over the phone. How do you read me?

This question helps me understand how well they deal with being put on the spot and how perceptive they are. Do they take risks with their answer, you look like you could be demanding and impatient, etc., or are they obsequious youre really successful and smart?

Martyn Basset, CEO, and Founder of , a Recruitment Firm

Do You Host Any Events With The Team Outside Of Work

Does everyone keep their head down and do their own thing? Or does everyone enjoy each other’s company? This interview question serves as a great way to find out a little bit about the company culture.

Ideally, there’s a good balance of work and life and the company creates opportunities for those to blend.

How It Helps You

Along with learning about company culture, this is a more lighthearted question that might relax a stiffened atmosphere or lead to a conversation about shared interests.

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How Would Your Past Coworkers Describe Your Interactions With Them Why Would They Describe Them This Way

Understanding a candidates personality and work style is important to how well theyll do in the role theyre applying for, as well as how theyll fit into their team and into company culture. Its easier to hire a good fit than it is to adjust someones general disposition.

While its obvious that a candidate is unlikely to reveal negative traits, what they choose to highlight can be a good indicator of their self-awareness and if theyd be a team player or not.

Answer example:

The coworkers at my current company would describe my interactions with them as helpful and friendly. Im a problem-solver by nature I really enjoy the challenge of identifying an issue and brainstorming a solution. So, if someone was working on a project or had a difficult client, theyd often come to me for advice and I was always happy to throw out some ideas or ask questions that would help them land on a solution.

Tell Me About A Time You Strongly Disagreed With Your Manager What Did You Do To Convince Him Or Her That You Were Right What Ultimately Happened

When we surveyed our network of thoughtful founders and operators, several mentioned this as their favorite interview question. Since they each had different points of emphasis and takeaways, weve combined a few perspectives here to highlight why this question packs such a punch.

Lets start with Cristina Cordova. She joined Stripe as the 28th employee and first business development hire. In addition to joining First Rounds Angel Track program, shes since led multiple teams across Business Development, Financial Partnerships, Partner Engineering and Diversity & Inclusion functions which means shes done her fair share of hiring.

And this question has become her go-to in interviews for a few reasons. It shows me how far someone will go in order to do what they believe is right, says Cordova. The way candidates choose to unpack the anecdote also shows me how they convince others in the face of obstacles. Do they use data? Do they gather support from others? Asking about what ultimately happened is also particularly illustrative. How they speak about not getting their way tells you a lot about whether they’re willing to disagree and commit to execution, she says.

Curtis probes deeper into the topic with targeted follow-ups that really get into the weeds of how the disagreement with their boss went down:

What was your managers reasoning?

What arguments did you find compelling in favor of the decision?

What was your reasoning and most compelling arguments against?

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Do You Have Any Questions

This might be one of the most important questions asked during the interview process because it allows you to explore any topics that havent been addressed and shows the interviewer youre serious about the role. Remember that you are interviewing the company too. Take time to about their own experiences with the company, gain tips on how you can succeed if hired and address any lingering questions you have. Some examples include:

• What do you love most about working for this company?

• What would success look like in this role?

• What are some of the challenges people typically face in this position?

• How important is it that you hire someone with XYZ qualities?

• Do you have any hesitations about hiring me?

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Why Are You Leaving Your Current Employer

When you ask this question, pay close attention to how the candidate talks about their former job. Are they focusing on the negative aspects, or do they err more on the positive side by addressing their hopes for the future? The interviewees ability to show respect for their previous employer and workplace demonstrates their civility and professionalism, which are two essential attributes in any role.

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