Tweet

My Favorite Interview Questions

Written by: Betsey Nash

Article Overview: Suggested questions to ask & things to think about when interviewing new job applicants.

My Favorite Interview Questions

You can go to the EDD (Employment Development Department) and pick up a list of questions you can expect to be asked in a job interview. And on the other side are suggested answers! This serves as a warning to me: when interviewing, don't ask these questions! Over the last 30 years I have come up with some that should be unexpected.

What have you been praised for in the past? For me the answer is always "ironing". I know it doesn't have anything to do with a job I'm applying for, but it should indicate a few things about me.

• Praise can get a little sister to do almost anything for 8 years until she figures out that her mom put big brother up to it.

• I like a project with a clear beginning and end.

• I like to see my progress.

I could have also answered "public speaking". That answer should indicate that I am not shy. At least.

What is the most unreasonable assignment you have been given in the past? What made it so? Ooh - this should be fun. You know what they should expect at your business: interruptions, last minutes demands, shifting from one project to another (or the opposite - complex, time consuming individual projects). Is that exactly what they are describing? Red flag!

Former GE exec, Jack Welch, says that the most important question to ask in an interview is: Why are you leaving your current job? #2 is: Why did you leave the one before that? The secret is in listening to - and believing -- what they say. If the answer is "personal reasons", or "disagreement with management", end the interview now. If they describe a situation where they were not allowed to do the exact things you want them to do, keep listening. And ask follow-ups.

The answers to these and similar questions reveal an applicant's strengths and provide you with the information you need to determine if their strengths align with your needs. Yes, I can do your bookkeeping, but considering my strengths lie in other areas, this is not a good fit for me. Given the option, adding columns would probably be the last item on my To Do list. I will need supervision.

And listen to their communication style. If they will be reporting to you, are they laying on the detail when you'd rather have a quick answer? Or vice versa? Are they speaking so slowly that you are about to scream? Then they should probably not be placed in a position where quick thinking and communication are required. Are they spouting creative ideas? Place them where this is what you need.

We may have beaten the communication horse to death by now - one of my strengths. So, let's review.

1. Organizations: identify what you need in terms of talents and strengths, and ask questions that will reveal them. Listen for communication style to determine the "fit".

2. Applicants: listen for the communication style of the interviewer and design your answers to be "heard".

3. And, what the heck: study the EDD's list. FYI: I haven't ironed one of my brother's shirts in 39 years.

Related Articles
  Why-Questions
  Interview Preparation Gives Confidence
  Taking Charge by Setting the Tone
  How do you get offered a job working in the recruitment industry?
  The Point Of Tough Interview Questions

Article Tags: favorite, interview questions, job applicants, new job



Related Forum Posts
Even more profile options - Thanks for the suggestions guys - I've now added: - Favorite Business Quote - What I Do - Favorite Hobby Looking forward to seeing your responses!
Re: Even more profile options - [quote="Evan":3lxxf1dd]Thanks for the suggestions guys - I've now added: - Favorite Business Quote - What I Do - Favorite Hobby Looking forward to seeing your responses![/quote:3lxxf1dd] This is awesome - at some point today I'm going to need to modify my profile and add this stuff. Nice work!
Re: Even more profile options - [quote="Evan":asnr3rr9]Thanks for the suggestions guys - I've now added: - Favorite Business Quote - What I Do - Favorite Hobby Looking forward to seeing your responses![/quote:asnr3rr9] Hi Evan, That's great! Do you think it'd be possible turn the keywords listed in the profiles into links like on social networking sites? For instance, if someone's favorite entrepreneur is "Bill Gates", I should be able to click on that name to find a list of all the other forum members who share that same entry.
Re: New forum - online businesses! - Thanks Evan for this great Interview and I will be pleased to be part of the new forum on online businesses!
Facebook applications - ....[quote:36s714h1]The two that we were thinking of were Famous Entrepreneur Quotes and Which famous entrepreneur am I most like? [/quote:36s714h1] So far my own foray into Facebook has been a complete bust, though I expected that from the start. But if I do an Application for my own particular field of interest, such as Your Favorite Sci Fi movie...that might get people going. So Evan when you figure out how to do this please let me know how complicated it is!!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Angel Investors Where Are You?

Executive Blind Spots

Selling with Humor (and a Sorry Butt)

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.