Killer interview questions help you hire great team members\u00a0 Start using these questions now.<\/p>\n
I also suggest that you ask applicants to write a cover letter explaining their special talents or abilities. Applicants who do not include a cover letter should not be considered because they failed to do their very first assignment. You can learn so much from cover letters\u2014including the applicant\u2019s level of sophistication, their command of English, and the strengths they choose to emphasize.<\/p>\n
Here are the questions:<\/p>\n
BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
Why are you applying for this position?<\/p>\n
WORK HISTORY<\/p>\n
What special aspects of your work experience have prepared you for this job?
\nDescribe one or two of your most important accomplishments.
\nHow much supervision have you typically received in your previous job?
\nWhy are you leaving your present job? (or, Why did you leave your last job?)<\/p>\n
JOB PERFORMANCE<\/p>\n
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses as workers. What are your strengths?
\nWhat would you say are areas needing improvement?
\nWhen you have been told, or discovered for yourself, a problem in your job performance, what have you typically done? Can you give me an example?
\nDo you prefer working alone or in groups?
\nWhat kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with? Why?
\nWhat are some things you would like to avoid in a job? Why?
\nIn your previous\/current job, what kind of pressures did you encounter?
\nWhat would you say is the most important thing you are looking for in a job?
\nWhat were some of the things about your last job that you found most difficult to do?
\nWhat are some of the problems you encounter in doing your job? Which one frustrates you the most? What do you usually do about it?
\nWhat are some things you particularly liked about your last job?<\/p>\n
EDUCATION<\/p>\n
What special aspects of your education or training have prepared you for this job?
\nWhat courses in school have been of most help in doing your job?<\/p>\n
CAREER- GOALS<\/p>\n
What is your long-term employment or career objective?
\nWho or what in your life would you say influenced you most with your career objectives?<\/p>\n
What would you most like to accomplish if you had this job?
\nWhat might make you leave this job?<\/p>\n
SELF-ASSESSMENT<\/p>\n
What kind of things do you feel most confident in doing?
\nDescribe a difficult obstacle you have had to overcome? How did you
\nhandle it?
\nHow would you describe yourself as a person?
\nWhat do you think are the most important characteristics and abilities a person must
\npossess to become successful in this position? How do you rate yourself in these areas?
\nDo you consider yourself a self-starter? If so, explain why ( and give examples).
\nWhat things give you the greatest satisfaction at work?
\nWhat things frustrate you the most? How do you usually cope with them?
\nWhat qualities are you looking for in a boss\/supervisor?
\nWhat have been the sources of stress in your work history?
\nHow so you deal with work related stress?
\nWhat was the last major problem at work that you were confronted with? What action did you take on it?
\nWhat have you done to further your professional development?<\/p>\n
MOTIVATION<\/p>\n
What motivates you to do your best work?
\nCan you give me examples of experiences on the job that you felt were satisfying?<\/p>\n
Describe how you determine what constitutes top priorities in the performance of your job.<\/p>\n
WORK STANDARDS<\/p>\n
What are your standards of success in your job?
\nIn your position, how would you define doing a good job?<\/p>\n
LEADERSHIP<\/p>\n
Do others view you as a leader? Why or why not?
\nWhat approach do you take in getting others to accept your ideas?
\nWhat specifically do you do to set an example for your co-workers?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While these questions will certainly help you elicit insights from applications, please remember to consult with your attorney to be sure that all your human resources policies, including hiring, are in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.<\/p>\n
David Schwab, Ph.D.
\nwww.davidschwab.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"