If you’ve already read our post about How to Attract Top Talent, you probably have candidates lining up to interview for your latest job posting. Now it’s time for the most important part of the hiring process, the interview.
Prior to an interview, you will find interviewees preparing furiously, practicing their responses to some of the most common and challenging interview questions they may face. The purpose of the interview is to determine if the candidate is a fit for the position and your company, so it’s equally vital that you, the interviewer, are adequately prepared too. Asking the right questions will help you determine the candidate will fit seamlessly into your organization.
To help you prepare for interviewing candidates, we’ve put together some questions that will help you separate the best from the rest.
1. What excites you most about this position?
This question is a no-brainer. You want someone who will be excited to come into work each day, who will enthusiastically promote your mission and further your goals. A candidate’s response to this question will show you how much they know about you and what will drive them to achieve great things for your company.
2. What is one skill that makes you uniquely qualified for this position?
Only allowing them to choose one skill will quickly demonstrate if this candidate has the experience necessary to perform the job. The candidate will put forth their best skill, so it should raise some red flags if the skill they choose does not pertain to the responsibilities of the job they are interviewing for.
3. What is your working style?
If you’ve already read our blog about The Importance of a Culture Fit in the Workplace, you know that one of the most important indicators of long-term success is a situation in which the employee is thriving in your environment and fitting into the existing culture. By asking this question, you will be able to find out if this candidate will work well within the confines of your established culture and working style of your team.
4. Could you share one skill you would like to improve?
Perhaps more valuable than what skills the interviewee does have are the skills they do not. The idea is not to discredit them based on things they don’t know but to see if they are actively taking steps to improve that skill. The desire to get better and constantly improve is essential for any employee, and that’s the response you should be looking for.
5. What do you like to do outside of work?
When looking to add team members to your company, you want to ensure that you are hiring a well-rounded individual that brings a unique perspective to your dynamic team. A person solely focused on work can burn out quickly, and you want individuals to have an outlet to leverage their strengths in a new and different way. It’s also a great way to determine culture fit, as the candidate’s hobbies may mesh well with existing employees. This response should not make or break a candidate’s chances of securing a position with your organization, but it will give you a sense of the candidate’s personality.
As an interviewer, there are so many questions you can ask a potential employee, but these are just a few that will give you unique insights into the candidate’s drive, character and personality that will indicate whether this individual will be a good fit for your company. Proper preparation will help you understand exactly what you’re looking for so you can identify those qualities in a new hire.
If you’re struggling with finding the right kind of talent for your company, let the professionals at GLE Creative Talent help you tackle the complex process of hiring talented individuals in pharmaceutical advertising and medical communications.