Do you remember the questions game, in which the contestant had named an object in mind, and the others were challenged to learn it in a certain number of questions? If they could, they won. If not, the contestant walked away with the prize.
We're still playing a version of that game today every time we interview a candidate for a job. A win for your company is substantial—a productive employee who will be with the organization for many years.
During the interview, there are hundreds of questions that could be asked, but if we were limited to 20, which would elicit the responses most predictive of future job success? We're not talking about routine stuff like "where did you work?" or "what did you do in your last job?" We're talking about more probing questions that reveal the person sitting behind the smile and the handshake.
Here are the 20 questions we have chosen, and the areas they explore:
Education:
1) What aspects of your training and education have most helped you on the job?
2) What skills or knowledge did you acquire after you finished your education?
Work background/preferences:
3) What about your last job prepared you for this job?
4) What did you like most and least about your previous jobs?
5) What would your previous supervisor say if we asked him or her about what you are like as an employee?
6) What are your two greatest accomplishments in your previous jobs?
7) What are your two greatest disappointments in your previous jobs?
8) If you could design the ideal job for you, what would it be like?
9) Tell me what you know about our company and its competitors.
Workplace interaction:
10) How do you resolve personal confrontations?
11) What have you done when you've received instructions with which you've disagreed?
12) What constructive criticism have you received, and what did you do about it?
13) Tell me about your experiences working on a team.
Leadership potential:
14) What do you feel are the qualities required for good leadership?
15) Tell me about a group you had to lead that was difficult and how you got the members to achieve a goal.
Behavior under stress:
16) What do you do when you have too much work for a given period of time?
17) Tell me about the toughest decision you ever had to make.
Future Behaviors/Retention Possibilities:
18) Where would you like to be career-wise in 5 years? In 10 years?
19) What are three things you will NOT do in your next job?
20) Are you lucky?
If you consider number 20 a bit strange, it has real potential. Individuals who believe themselves lucky tend to be optimistic and work out well as collaborators, innovators, and providers of excellent customer service.
Regards, Nawas
From Kuwait, Kuwait
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48We're still playing a version of that game today every time we interview a candidate for a job. A win for your company is substantial—a productive employee who will be with the organization for many years.
During the interview, there are hundreds of questions that could be asked, but if we were limited to 20, which would elicit the responses most predictive of future job success? We're not talking about routine stuff like "where did you work?" or "what did you do in your last job?" We're talking about more probing questions that reveal the person sitting behind the smile and the handshake.
Here are the 20 questions we have chosen, and the areas they explore:
Education:
1) What aspects of your training and education have most helped you on the job?
2) What skills or knowledge did you acquire after you finished your education?
Work background/preferences:
3) What about your last job prepared you for this job?
4) What did you like most and least about your previous jobs?
5) What would your previous supervisor say if we asked him or her about what you are like as an employee?
6) What are your two greatest accomplishments in your previous jobs?
7) What are your two greatest disappointments in your previous jobs?
8) If you could design the ideal job for you, what would it be like?
9) Tell me what you know about our company and its competitors.
Workplace interaction:
10) How do you resolve personal confrontations?
11) What have you done when you've received instructions with which you've disagreed?
12) What constructive criticism have you received, and what did you do about it?
13) Tell me about your experiences working on a team.
Leadership potential:
14) What do you feel are the qualities required for good leadership?
15) Tell me about a group you had to lead that was difficult and how you got the members to achieve a goal.
Behavior under stress:
16) What do you do when you have too much work for a given period of time?
17) Tell me about the toughest decision you ever had to make.
Future Behaviors/Retention Possibilities:
18) Where would you like to be career-wise in 5 years? In 10 years?
19) What are three things you will NOT do in your next job?
20) Are you lucky?
If you consider number 20 a bit strange, it has real potential. Individuals who believe themselves lucky tend to be optimistic and work out well as collaborators, innovators, and providers of excellent customer service.
Regards, Nawas
From Kuwait, Kuwait
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hi can anyone tell me. what kind of question is asked in interview to a fresher in the field of HR. please rpl.
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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If the candidate is pregnant, does she has to disclose about her pregnancy stage to the interviewer?
From Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
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From Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
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Hi to all,
Unfortunately, I am unable to find a book that was previously shared here some time back. It was about interview questions with sample answers, giving insights on how to respond. The book was titled something like "60 Questions and Answers About Job Interviews." It was really helpful for me in understanding the nuances of interviews.
I have searched through some other posts and hope the ones I found will be helpful for you. Some of the questions listed here are commonly asked to newcomers as well. You can find a list of common interview questions and answers at [link removed]. These questions can be quite tricky for a fresher.
Another resource I came across is https://www.citehr.com/11139-prepare...questions.html, which also contains related questions that are commonly asked during interviews.
Lastly, for the sister who inquired about pregnancy reporting, my advice is that if the topic is brought up during the interview, it's best to be honest. However, if they don't ask about it initially, it's advisable not to disclose this information in the first meeting. Many organizations conduct various screenings before hiring, so it's better to disclose such personal information at a later stage.
Best regards,
Polky
From Pakistan, Karachi
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Unfortunately, I am unable to find a book that was previously shared here some time back. It was about interview questions with sample answers, giving insights on how to respond. The book was titled something like "60 Questions and Answers About Job Interviews." It was really helpful for me in understanding the nuances of interviews.
I have searched through some other posts and hope the ones I found will be helpful for you. Some of the questions listed here are commonly asked to newcomers as well. You can find a list of common interview questions and answers at [link removed]. These questions can be quite tricky for a fresher.
Another resource I came across is https://www.citehr.com/11139-prepare...questions.html, which also contains related questions that are commonly asked during interviews.
Lastly, for the sister who inquired about pregnancy reporting, my advice is that if the topic is brought up during the interview, it's best to be honest. However, if they don't ask about it initially, it's advisable not to disclose this information in the first meeting. Many organizations conduct various screenings before hiring, so it's better to disclose such personal information at a later stage.
Best regards,
Polky
From Pakistan, Karachi
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Hi,
Those were the best examples of behavioral interview questions, which would uncover the employee's judgment, making it a little easier.
Harlina, that's a good question and a tricky situation as well. Of course, if the pregnancy is in the early stages, the candidate can specify only if asked during the interview. Some might argue that the candidate should disclose the pregnancy herself; yes, the candidate is expected to disclose if she anticipates needing time off within 6-7 months of joining. No company wants an employee to go on extended leave shortly after joining.
Thanks, Vidhya
From Canada, Calgary
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Those were the best examples of behavioral interview questions, which would uncover the employee's judgment, making it a little easier.
Harlina, that's a good question and a tricky situation as well. Of course, if the pregnancy is in the early stages, the candidate can specify only if asked during the interview. Some might argue that the candidate should disclose the pregnancy herself; yes, the candidate is expected to disclose if she anticipates needing time off within 6-7 months of joining. No company wants an employee to go on extended leave shortly after joining.
Thanks, Vidhya
From Canada, Calgary
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HR & IR Interview Preparation Questions.docx