Conducting interviews is a crucial part of the hiring process. Asking the right questions allows you to go beyond just a candidate's resume to understand their true skills, experience, and cultural fit. But with so many potential questions, how do recruiters know where to focus?

This is where weekday.works comes in handy. Their platform uses intelligent algorithms to match qualified candidates with your open positions. This takes much of the guesswork out of screening applicants. But you still need to be armed with the right interview questions.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the key types of questions to uncover the best candidate for any role. Aligning your questions with the specific job skills and company culture will reveal the most about each applicant. Let’s dive in!

Understanding the Role and Candidate

The first step is structuring questions that gauge a candidate's understanding of and interest in the open position. This sets the tone for assessing their qualifications.

Start by having applicants walk through their resume and background as it relates to the role. Listen for signs of genuine interest and alignment with the responsibilities involved.

Example questions:

What excites you most about this role?

How do you think your skills and experience make you a great fit?

What interests you about our company and this position?

Listen for specifics that show research into the role versus generic answers. Probing deeper into their response reveals passion and fit.

Assessing Skills and Experience

Next, drill down into the candidate's applicable skills and experiences. A SHRM survey found that nearly 70% of organizations primarily base hiring decisions on previous job experience.

Tailor your questions to the hard and soft skills needed for the role based on the job description. Inquire about specifics from their background that apply.

Example questions:

Tell me about a time you successfully led a project similar to this position. What was the outcome?

Give me an example of a difficult work situation and how you handled it.

What industry-specific skills do you bring from past roles?

Analyze how confident and detailed their responses are. Look for examples that demonstrate capacity to take on the role.

Evaluating Cultural Fit and Personality

Cultural fit is key. Even the most skilled candidate will struggle if their work values don’t align with your company. That’s why weekday.works assesses cultural fit from the start.

In the interview, ask questions to determine if the candidate will thrive in your environment. Learn about what motivates them and their preferences.

Examples:

How would your colleagues describe your work style?

Tell me about a time you adapted your style to work better cross-functionally.

What kind of work environment do you prefer?

Assess if they value collaboration or prefer working independently. Make sure their style matches your culture.

Problem-Solving and Creativity

The ability to think critically and creatively solves workplace challenges. Tailor scenario questions to the situations they may encounter in the role.

Examples:

How would you approach innovating our X process or offering?

Describe a time you overcame a complex issue. What was your thought process?

What creative strategies might you employ to build our brand awareness?

Listen for logical, innovative thinking. Do they ask clarifying questions? How data-driven or imaginative are their ideas? Note any gaps.

Leadership and Team Dynamics

For managerial roles, test leadership skills and ability to motivate teams. Inquire about their management style.

Examples:

How would you describe your approach to leading a team?

Tell me about a time you increased productivity or morale.

What strategies do you employ to foster professional growth in your team?

Assess their people skills, accountability, and vision. Do they lead by example and bring out the best in their teams?

Conclusion

Using the right interview questions allows you to fully evaluate candidates beyond just their resumes. Aligning questions with required hard and soft skills, company culture, critical thinking, and leadership abilities unveils their fit.

Let weekday.works match you with qualified candidates. Then have the key questions ready to uncover their true potential. Discover how Weekday.works takes the guesswork out of hiring by requesting a demo today!