Questions recruiters should ask during interviews
It is easy to tell a candidate’s credentials from his resume detailing his education and qualifications – but, how can we know if he has the qualities and values to fit into the company culture?
Human resource practitioners share with Forbes the questions they would ask during an interview to determine if the candidate is suitable for the company.
What are your current talents?
Talents are either in-born or nurtured, but without practice and discipline – the skills cannot deepen.
This open-ended question does not need to be limited to work skills. The candidate can share his interests such as a well-developed hobby in craft-making or gardening, or share how he has an apt for languages by picking one up.
This question can give an overall insight into his curiosity and passion to learn – thus, giving ideas into his thirst for knowledge.
What is your motivation?
In other words, what is the interviewee working towards?
Is it for a great career path, money goals to purchase a big house or comfortable lifestyle, or working for a better life for his family? These are just some of the many reasons a candidate might say during an interview.
At different points in our life, we all value different wants and needs. This question is not to judge, but to have a peek into how the person was brought up and possibly lead to insights into his life experiences.
What is your ideal work environment?
A work culture that is too far from expectations can lead to an employee quitting.
By understanding his/her expectations, the interviewer can give the candidate a clearer picture of what is to be expected after being hired.
It can also reveal the person’s preferred working or management style. If a candidate is not the type who can work under a boss who likes to micro-manage or one who is too relaxed, then this question can help in the decision-making process.
How do you handle a colleague you cannot get along with?
Behavioural traits are ways to show a candidate’s personality in his/her daily work life.
In a diversified workplace, we can get colleagues with all different types of personality, and it is not uncommon to have some clashes.
It is also an excellent way to know how he/she deals with conflict or stressful situations, communicates, or reacts in everyday work life.
