The  twenty questions you must ask during an interview

What questions do you ask someone for a vacancy that is crucial within a company. How will you determin within an hour if that person is the best candidate? It remains difficult but the are several question that I believe you should at the minimum ask. 

These questions are based on the book Topgrading by Bradford D. Smart who spent years  studying how to bring in top talent, among other things. Note: when you interview multiple candidates for the same position, try to ask the same questions over and over again, so that you can make a good comparison when making the choice.

1. Who are people who have influenced you and who have had an effect on you when it comes to career interest, personality and self-esteem?
2. Why did you take your previous job?
3. What were your responsibilities in your previous job and how did you get them? Picked up?
4. What successes have you achieved and how have you achieved them?
5. Everyone makes mistakes, what were the things that didn’t go well for you? If you the clock could turn back, what would you have done differently?
6. How have you changed the business?
7. What did you like and like most about your previous job?
8. Why did you leave your previous employer?
9. What are your goals for your next job?
10. What are your longer-term goals and plans when it comes to your career?
11. What are your personal motives in your daily life?
12. What actions do you take in the first two weeks of your new job?
13. How do you deal with things that are imposed on you that are outside your job description?
14. What makes you a good leader?
15. Are there a number (e.g. 4) competencies that are important for this job? Can you indicate with examples that you have those competencies in-house?
16. What kind of manager is right for you?
17. We’re going to call references, what do you think your previous managers will say are your weaknesses and strengths?
18. Are there things we haven’t discussed yet that are worth discussing?
19. Do you have any questions of your own?

When you ask these questions to all possible candidates, you can be sure that you are making the best choice for the organization. Despite all these questions, according to Topgrading (Bradford D. Smart’s book), it is not the intention to cross-examine during a job interview. Keep in mind that your goal is to get to know the candidate better so that you choose the best new colleague for the job.

Do you have questions about the recruitment process within your organization? Please contact me.