Many years ago when I started in management and needed to conduct my first wholesaler interview, I was at a loss for meaningful questions that would help me get more solid insights into the candidates that I was about to see.
After some homework I made a list of 10 questions and I made a habit of asking the exact same question to every candidate that I saw – regardless of the position they were applying for.
What I found was:
- Most job candidates were thrown way off because too many interviewers ask terrible/meaningless questions. As a result they were put a bit out of their interview comfort zone – which was a good thing.
- These questions, when used over the years, allowed me to get better folks in the jobs.
- If folks blow question #1, the rest of the interview generally goes downhill fast.
Download a copy of the 10 Great Interview Questions here.
All of these questions were excerpted from The Manager’s Book of Questions: 1001 Great Interview Questions for Hiring the Best Person.
So, did that mean I never made a hiring mistake?
Oh hell no.
Like all managers I have hired my share of duds – even after they answered these questions well.
And I know I would have made more hiring mistakes if I didn’t start with them.