15 Interview Questions that Uncover Talent
By Vistage
member and speaker, Russ Riendeau, Ph.D.
Traditional
interview questions oriented around performance, duties and responsibility
are important, but the answers often obscure a person's commitment
or emotional intelligence required for the job. By asking new questions,
you’ll be amazed at what you can find out. The findings can help you make
better hiring decisions, lower turnover and significantly reduce hiring
costs significantly.
Here are
behavioral-based, legal, gender-friendly questions designed to flush out the
deeper and more complex behaviors and thinking patterns of a candidate for
hire.
1.
What
question do you have for me right away?
2.
What would
really surprise me about you? What else?
3.
What’s your
real motivation to change jobs? No, the real reason (test, re-test)
4.
What’s your
philosophy on goal setting?
5.
What reading
material would I find on your coffee table?
6.
Tell me a
story about when you found yourself in an ethical dilemma and what happened?
7.
How did you
earn money while in college?
8.
How far away
from home have you traveled? (Have a map on your desk)
9.
Draw me a
pie chart showing how you spend an eight-hour day.
10.
Are you a
curious person? If so, show me an example.
11.
What’s your
favorite success story? What’s your favorite failure story?
12.
What should
I have asked you that I haven’t?
13.
Do you want
to be a millionaire? Why? What are you doing to prepare for it?
14.
Are you
ready to resign from your job in 5 days? What will your employer do when you
quit? What do you think they will say about you after you’ve left?
15.
Have you
ever created a 30, 60, 90-day strategic plan for your job or a future job?
(Well, today’s their lucky day)
Research
shows that more than 75% of executives today lack any formal interviewing
training. The consequences of weak interview skills are lasting and
sometimes unrecognizable until it’s too late. The wrong people get hired, or
great talent is overlooked. Utilize these 15 questions to your company’s
advantage and hire candidates who are truly right for the job.
Russ
Riendeau , PhD has been in the executive search business since 1985. From
1976-1985 he built homes for Lexington Homes and started a small company
that did house painting and general repair work. He’s written five books in
the last 12 years and does public speaking and workshops using live music.
He is a Vistage speaker and Senior Partner of The East Wing Search Group.
He’s also the co-author of a new book, “The
CEO’s Guide to Talent Acquisition.”
He can be reached at
www.eastwingsearchgroup.com, or 847-381-0977
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