Questions to Ask a Candidate in an Interview

Recruitment Expert
Dec 16, 2024
3 min read

Hey there! 🌟 So, you're planning an interview soon? That’s exciting! Picking the right person for your team can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack—lots of candidates, and some really weird ones, too! But don’t worry. When you have the right questions, you can get a glimpse into their minds and see if they’ll be a good fit. It’s all about having a real conversation, isn’t it?

Let’s walk through a bunch of these interview questions. These are great for breaking the ice and also getting deeper into someone’s experience, skills, and piqued interest in the role. Ready? Here we go!

Two silhouettes sit at a table with drinks, sharing thought bubbles with symbols and a question mark, on an orange background.

Crafting the Start

Okay, you want to set the tone before diving in. A good opening question is to ask about the candidate’s experience. It’s wild how much you can learn from what they share!

Can you summarize your work experience over the last five years? This one gets them talking about their journey. Like an adventure story. Because let's be honest: What’s better than a good journey narrative?

A fun follow-up could be:

What got you interested in your field? This helps you see their passion. (If they light up while talking, yay!)

Delving Deeper: Skills & Qualities Questions to Ask a Candidate

Once you’ve broken the ice, it’s time for the good stuff: their skills! Everyone wants their new team member to fit right in. After all, who doesn’t love teamwork?

What skills are you most confident in? This gives potential insights into their expertise. But here’s the kicker:
Can you provide an example when you used this skill successfully? How'd it feel, though, to bring that talent to life?

Don't shy away from diving into how they view challenges either!

Tell me about a challenge you faced in past jobs and how you overcame it. Challenges can reveal a lot—not just about ability, but resilience.

Got Culture Fit?

Now, let’s talk about cultures and vibes—vibes are super important! You ought to have the right energy in your crew. So asking culture-oriented questions is a must.

What kind of work environment suits you best? Do they jive with a buzzing workspace or a chill corner? And this one:
How do you handle conflicts at work? Whoa, conflict! A toughie but super necessary. How they navigate through storms can tell you a lot.

Teasing Out Teamwork

Alright! Let’s transition into teamwork. Because, who doesn’t love a solid team effort? Team dynamics can make or break a project.

How do you prefer to get feedback from others? Seems straightforward, right? But the answers can range from “Just tell me directly!” to “I love paper notes!” (Well, how retro, huh?)

Tell us about a time you collaborated with a team on a project. What was your role?Getting specifics is gold. It’s like wearing rose-tinted glasses and seeing how they sparkle amidst the group.

Wrapping Validity with Situational Questions

We've made tons of ground! Now, let’s talk hypotheticals, alright? Situational questions help gauge quick thinking and problem-solving skills.

Imagine that your team delivered a project on a tight timeline, but there's critical feedback. How would you respond?

Go for standout occasions!

If we hired you, how would you envision your first month here?

Opening the Iron Safe: Backstories

Time to dig a little deeper yet! Knowing the backstory behind choices can tick a box or twig a warning. Of course, tread gently!

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? Longing-headed ideas breathe life—and bring postcards, a little art, for the novel but… what kind of nutter trend?

Right here might also be a good chance for friendly fun! Perhaps ask: