"PROVOKING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS"

by Phil Miclot, Director
Eastman & Smith Ltd.

     If you're like most of us, interviewing candidates for positions in our firms can be a trying experience. We just don't do it every day…so, we can be just as nervous about it as the candidates themselves. Inside every employer/employee relationship, there is a talent piece and a "chemistry" piece. The talent piece – can they do the job – can be checked through other means. It's the "chemistry" piece – can they work well within your organization – that can be difficult to determine. Following is a list of my favorite questions and some of the reasons behind them. Good recruiting!

Tell me about yourself.

This is the great "ice breaker." It allows the candidate to tell you everything about him/her that you aren't allowed to ask and has sometimes been called the "Two minute drill." You get a chance to listen.

Why leave your current job / last job?

Describe your worst boss and how did you handle him/her.

Find out if the candidate is one who looks to blame someone else.

What keeps you from doing your job as well as you would like to?

What is the best piece of constructive criticism you have received and what did you do with it?

Thought provoking. Does the candidate have a positive outlook and attitude.

How would your co-workers describe you?

How do you build a team?

Does the candidate work and play well with others.

Do you have any commitments during the day that would prohibit you from performing the job's duties?

If the candidate has to attend to a sick relative from 10am to 2pm each day, this might not work out for you.

Why should we hire you?

A great closing question. If s/he cannot give you a great answer … hmmmmmm.