Some job interview questions are boring and traditional, there’s no doubt about this. But these questions are usually boring, traditional, and predictable for a reason. There are certain things that a wise hiring manger has an obligation to ask as a simple part of any candidate screening process, and these questions usually can’t be answered by a resume or background check. Questions like “Describe your experience in this field” and “What are your greatest strengths?” are the dull, indispensable requirements that should take up about fifty percent of a standard 30 minute job interview.
But what about the remaining 15 minutes? And what about the behaviors and personality traits that can’t be accurately assessed via questions like “Where would you like to be in five years?”
A few non-traditional questions like the following can help you get a sense of who your candidate actually is, what she wants out of life, and whether or not she’s likely to adapt and thrive in your company culture.
Four Non-Traditional Interview Questions
1. “This job will involve regular exposure to (insert the most unpleasant aspect of the work environment). How do you feel about that?” An alternative might be “This job will sometimes require you to (insert the most daunting challenge of the position). How do you think you’ll manage that task?”
This question helps a hiring manager determine whether a candidate will thrive or struggle in this position. But it can also provide a sense of her general levels of tolerance and/or enthusiasm for the more unpopular aspects of the field.
2. “If you’re leading a team and you have to choose between meeting a deadline and offering exceptional work, which would you rather do?”
You can also ask a candidate if she’s ever had to make this choice in the past and how she handled the situation if so. Behavioral interview questions similar to this one are widely available through staffing agencies and talent management firms. Contact our office at Expert Staffing and we can provide you with dozens of them.
3. “If you were a (superhero, tree, fruit, planet) which would you like to be and why?”
Interviewers often enjoy these kinds of questions since they test a candidate’s conversational ease and sense of humor. But we recommend caution with this tactic, since it can easily be misused and come across as demeaning or disrespectful. Consider the nature of the position before you ask a playful interview question like this.
4. “What would you describe as your proudest professional accomplishment?”
This open-ended interview question can reveal volumes about a candidate, including the characteristics that she values, the level and depth of her real-world experience, and her ability to explain, describe, and express herself. It also helps end the interview on a positive note.
For many more questions like these and more detailed guidance with any of your hiring and retention issues, contact Expert Staffing. We have the tools you need to make the most of your valuable human capital.