In yesterday’s blog we covered the following interview questions; “Why do you want to work in this industry?”, “Tell me about Yourself?” and “What did you think of your previous boss?” as questions which not only give a good insight into a candidates personality, how they behave under pressure, what they have really achieved but also how ultimately they will fit into your organisation. Below are another 3 highly impactful interview questions which should help you in your journey to achieve the same objectives.
1. Why are your leaving your current role?
Be wary of candidates who blame their boss as describe their current role as boring. Candidates who emphasise the positives such as “I’ve learned and achieved a lot in my current role and I am now looking for a new challenge. I believe the position on offer here will allow me to use ny entire skillset to its full potential” are generally the candidates you should focus on.
If a candidate is leaving of their own free will, with good reason and on good terms with their previous boss, this all augurs well for the future if they are to join your organisation.
2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
Some candidates will give glib answers such as “sitting in your seat” or “doing your job”. Other candidates try the humorous approach such as “sitting on a beach in Miami”. There are also a contingent of candidates who will memorise from a textbook and use answers such as “working as part of a progressive team where I can fulfil my true potential”.
As an interviewer you are looking for a candidate who can display ambition, career orientation and a long term commitment to your company. For example a potential answer could be “my immediate goal is to find a position where I will not only grow with the company over time but where I will fit in culturally with a company with shares the same drive and ambition so I can build a career. In 5 years’ time, having proven myself to you and your colleagues, I’d like to be in some sort of managerial role in the company”.
The above answer shows an ambitious career driven candidate who wants to build a career within your organisation. Isn’t this a better candidate that one who gives a glib answer or tries to be funny by saying “a beach in Miami” as their five year end objective?
3. What is you greatest weakness?
Again be wary of those who provide glib answers to this question such as “I can’t stop working” or “I work too hard”. You are looking for a candidate with sincerity who has put a lot of thought into their answer and as such has identified a real weakness and is doing something to address it.
For example “Public speaking is not my strong point but I recently joined Toastmasters in Dublin. I can now give presentations to over 100 people and my new friends in Toastmaster have commended me on the vast improvements I have made”
Above is an example of a true weakness which could potentially hinder career progression and of a candidate who is determined to do something about it.
The above probing questions, depending on the quality of answers given, are a good way of probing a candidates true motivations and how they will fit in culturally with your organisation.
To read 3 Great Questions to ask Candidates in Interviews, please click here>>>
