5 strategic interview questions to ask candidates

Ask the right questions to find the right person 

There are many talented candidates out there, but it can still be challenging to find the right person for your company.  

More than academic and professional achievements, when hiring we often look for those intangible qualities which make some candidates a better fit than others. 

But we can often get it wrong. You may find their skills are lacking when put into practice or that they’re not the right fit culturally for the team. 

75% of employers have made a bad hiring decision. And of these decisions, one bad hire amounts to $17,000 on average. 

CareerBuilder: Source

Hiring the wrong person can cost your business time and money to put right. So it’s important to ask the right questions during the interview process to make it as fruitful as possible. 

Over 70% of candidates who have had a negative interviewing experience have shared that experience online or with someone else directly 

CareerArc: Source

Furthermore, the candidates are also interviewing you! A poorly structured interview can harm your business and drive away good applicants. 

So, here are five strategic interview questions to ask candidates.  

Question One: Who do you count as a role model?  

Ask this to assess empathy and ability to relate to others. 

Empathy

The ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation. 

Cambridge Dictionary: Source

All businesses rely on people engaging with other people so it’s common sense to build your business with those employees who can work well with colleagues and customers.

Asking this question is also a good ice-breaker and builds a positive rapport between you both, as it allows the candidate to open up about a person who is usually meaningful to them.

Over 80% of employees believe empathetic leadership boosts morale and that is essential to fostering an inclusive environment.

EY: Source

Question Two: What do you like to read? 

Reading helps foster many positive attributes that can help in the workplace, and it’s also linked to higher levels of empathy. 

Numerous fascinating research studies show that reading and especially reading fiction (when you explore someone else’s experiences), helps to improve brain function and our overall capacity for kindness. 

A candidate’s response on their preferred books and publications will also be insightful in terms of their likes and interests and you may even have some favourites in common.

Question Three: Tell me about a time you mishandled a work situation? 

Ask this to assess a candidate’s integrity and willingness to ‘do the right thing’. 

We’ve all made mistakes at work and being able to recognise them is a critical part of learning and growing professionally. It takes courage and honesty to be able to critically self-reflect and open up about failings, and to a hiring manager.

It demonstrates how the candidate worked through that experience and how they can avoid that pitfall next time.

“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.”

Warren Buffet

Question Four: What are the biggest challenges you believe our business is facing?

Ask this to assess a candidate’s industry knowledge and knowledge of your business   

Aside from personal attributes, sound industry knowledge is, of course, essential. This will allow you to see how much a candidate knows about the market and where your business stands.

It will show how much research they have done on your customers and competitors and their clarity of thought regarding relevant issues and possible solutions. 

Question Five: What one thing could we change about our business? 

Ask this to assess a candidate’s ability to think quickly and critically 

‘I wouldn’t change a thing!’ is not the right answer. 

Every business has weaknesses and what you’re looking for is a candidate who can carefully evaluate them whilst proposing a credible solution. When answering this question, it’s an opportunity for them to showcase their communications skills and creativity. 

Ultimately, it can be difficult to find a great candidate, every time. The hiring process is not easy but by asking carefully considered questions, it will help you to hone in on the most suitable applicants. Good luck!

The information on this page is not professional, business or lifestyle advice and is for entertainment purposes only.