When it’s time to hire at your company, you’re under pressure to recruit someone who’s truly exceptional. To help you make a confident hiring decision, here are 5 questions to ask – and why you should ask them – when interviewing candidates:
#1: What do you know about our company and why do you want to work here?
It sounds simple on its surface. But, as one of the the best recruitment firms in Kansas City, Morgan Hunter knows that asking this question is important for multiple reasons. First, it enables you to assess whether a candidate has done their homework and researched your company. If they did, then it demonstrates they are care about the job opportunity and sincerely want to work at your organization. In addition, the second part of the question offers them an opportunity to persuade you as to why they think they’re a good fit. All in all, this question can help you filter out the weak, unprepared candidates and hone in on the smart ones.
#2: Tell me about a time you set a challenging goal. What did you do to achieve it?
You likely want to hire people who are results-driven and motivated to succeed. Asking a question like this helps you assess each candidate’s ability to not only set goals, but meet them, as well. The best candidates will walk you through the process of why they set a certain goal, what they did to achieve the goal and what they learned along the way.
#3: If I called your current or last boss, what would they say about you?
This is a spin on the “what are your weaknesses?” question. But what it does is force candidates to be more authentic with their answers because they presume you may actually pick up the phone and call their boss. It’s also a good question to ask to assess a candidate’s level of self awareness.
#4: What could your current employer do to be more successful?
Asking this question offers you some insight into how well a candidate sees the big picture and can offer up new solutions and ideas. It may also provide you with some revealing details as to why they want to leave their existing job. However, when a candidate starts bashing their employer, then you know they’ve gone too far.
#5: What is your single most important career accomplishment? Tell me how you planned it, managed it, and measured success.
When you ask this question, a candidate’s answer will reveal not only their track record of success – and whether it’s pertinent to your position – but also their sense of ownership and ability. A solid answer should also showcase confidence, hard work, and being willing to give others credit where it’s due.
Would you like to outsource the interviewing process to the experts? Call Morgan Hunter. As one of the the best recruitment firms in Kansas City, we have the knowledge, proven processes, and years of experience to help you hire and retain the employees you need, where and when you need them. Contact Morgan Hunter today to learn more.