How To Interview Someone For A Job (Part 3) | Sample Interview Questions

During an interview you are attempting to gain knowledge about the candidate’s career growth, stability, achievements, interpersonal skills and interest in the position. In this article we look at what topics to cover and the questions you need to ask.

Topics to Cover:

Work Experience

Compare the duties and responsibilities, supervision and the candidate’s likes and dislikes of past and present positions with the position you are seeking to fill. Question the candidate on his or her progress and salary increases. Also find out the candidate’s reasons for leaving their past or current job.

Relevance of Education

A person’s educational choices can reveal important aspects of his or her personality, motivation, character and interests. Key areas include: subjects studied, academic performance, positions held (e.g. class captain) and work experience while in school/college.

Outside Interests

When relevant to the job, outside interests, such as organisation and association memberships, and volunteer work, may be revealing.

Sample Interview Questions

General

• What do you know about our company?
• Why do you want to move to our company?
• What role are your applying for?
• What will you be doing on a day to day basis in this role?

Influencing or Persuading Others

• Tell me about a time when you were able to change someone’s viewpoint significantly.
• Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something that you disagreed with.

Interpersonal and Team Skills

• What skills and personal qualities have you contributed to the teams you have been part of?
• What qualities do you admire most in others?

Communication Skills

• Tell me about a time when someone misunderstood what you were attempting to communicate to them.
• Tell me about a time when you worked with people from a culture unlike your own. What did you do to overcome any perceived barriers to communication?
• Have you ever dealt with customers that are in the wrong? Give me a specific example and the outcome?
• What do you think that the company’s customers want?

Personal Adaptability, Energy and Resilience

• Tell me about a time when your work or an idea was criticised.
• Tell me about a time when you felt frustrated by your work.
• Describe something creative that you’ve done.
• What has been your most satisfying/ disappointing experience?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Tell me about a time when things were particularly hectic? How did you feel?
• What steps did you take to deal with the pressure?

Self-management, Self-motivation and Self-knowledge

• What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?
• What are the two most significant accomplishments in your career so far?
• What do you expect to be earning in 5 years?
• In the past year, what have you been dissatisfied about in your performance?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

Administrative Skills

• Tell me how you organise your work and schedule your time.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Tell me about a difficult decision that you have made.
• Tell me about a time when you had conflicting priorities and what you did to resolve them.

Conflict Management and Ethics

• Tell me about a difficult customer or a customer complaint that you have dealt with.
• How do you resolve conflict in the groups or teams that you have membership of?

Personal and Career Objectives

• What are your short and long-term goals?
• When and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
• What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now?

Knowledge of the Organisation and Role

• What skills and personal qualities are essential for success in this role?
• Why did you apply for this position?
• What do you know about our industry?
• What do you know about our organisation?

Ability, Competence and Achievement

• What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
• Tell us about a time when you had more to do than you could complete in the time allocated: tell us what you did about it and what the outcome was.
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?

Stress Questions

• Describe a time you failed.
• How do you react to stress?

Ending

• What is your notice period and salary expectations?
• Are you looking at other roles at present?
• What questions do you have for us?