13 Questions to Ask in Your Next Interview - ApplicantStack
The article from ApplicantStack advises job interviewers, especially small business owners, to move beyond common, rehearsed questions and instead ask meaningful behavioral and leadership questions—such as those about collaboration, stress management, and multitasking—to foster genuine connections, reveal candidates' true capabilities, and encourage open dialogue that better predicts job performance.
Most people looking for a job can easily recall the most common interview questions. The interview process is designed to understand how a candidate will perform at work. While traditional questions are still widely used, considering alternative questions can lead to more insightful conversations. Especially for small business owners, it's important to move beyond routine questions to make the most of the interview process.
Leave the Vague Questions Behind
Job seekers often have prepared answers for questions like “Tell us your best and worst attributes.” Such rehearsed responses may not provide meaningful insight. According to feedback gathered by LinkedIn, establishing a connection during the interview is a key indicator of a job offer. Connection allows candidates to reveal more about themselves beyond their resumes and encourages open dialogue. It also invites candidates to ask questions, demonstrating collaboration and communication skills. This approach can make both parties more comfortable and lead to more meaningful interactions.
When reviewing your list of interview questions, ask yourself: Do I actually care about the answer to this question? If not, consider updating your questions.
Interview Question Examples
The following examples are divided into two categories: Behavioral and Leadership.
Behavioral Question Examples
- 1.Describe some of your best working relationships or collaborations. What made them work well?
- Highlights collaboration as a company value and reveals comfort with teamwork.
- 2.Tell me about a time you were under a lot of stress. How did you cope? Did you take any lessons away from that experience?
- Shows what the candidate considers stressful and how they handle it.
- 3.Have you ever had a job with numerous responsibilities? How do you keep organized and give appropriate attention to all of it?
- Probes multitasking ability and organizational systems, possibly indicating familiarity with task management tools.
- 4.Can you think of a difficult conversation you had with a client or co-worker? How did you handle it and what lessons did you learn?
- Reveals conflict management style.
- 5.Tell me about a professional role model or mentor. What did they teach you?
- Provides insight into teachability and the value placed on mentorship.
- 6.What are previous job responsibilities you’d rather not do again?
- Invites introspection and honesty about less enjoyable tasks.
- 7.What job responsibilities have you enjoyed the most?
- Allows the candidate to highlight their talents and positive experiences.
- 8.What do you do for work/life balance?
- Offers a glimpse into hobbies and shows the company values life outside work.
Leadership Question Examples
- 1.Are you excited by the challenges of leadership? How would you describe those challenges?
- Directly asks about readiness for a managerial role; body language can be as telling as the verbal response.
- 2.What is your ideal team structure?
- Reveals prior team experience and preferred working styles.
- 3.Think of a project that hasn’t gone smoothly. How do you collaborate with team members to address issues?
- Shows tolerance for confrontation or avoidance and communication methods.
- 4.What process do you use to determine time requirements for your projects?
- Indicates familiarity with time management systems or software.
- 5.Have you ever served as a trainer or mentor? What did you like or not like about that role?
- Encourages honesty about past experiences and lessons learned from being mentored.
As an interviewer, you can ask follow-up questions for more detail, such as “How did that change your view of your work?” or “What have you taken from that experience that’s influenced your professional life?” or “Is there anything you would do differently?” Follow-up questions demonstrate engagement and help foster a connection during the interview.
Being organized for an interview is crucial for efficiency and connection. In small businesses, employees often have multiple roles and need access to hiring information. Tools like ApplicantStack can help keep track of potential hires, collaborate on interview questions, and schedule interviews with top candidates. When your company is growing, ApplicantStack can help.
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