Having great employees who ‘fit’ your company’s culture, is one of the most important components of any business. That means that during the recruitment process you have to ask the right questions that determine whether or not an applicant fits your culture. Below are my favourite interview questions which will help assess this:
1. What was your first job? Was there anything that you learned from the experience?
Personally, I honestly don’t care what an applicants first job was. You are really looking to see what they learned from the experience, if that is still applicable today, and if that gels with the company’s culture. More importantly, you want to see some creativity, motivation, and innovative thinking as well.
2. What stops would you make if you were going to give public tours of this company?
What’s great about this question is that it forces the applicant to think about what they perceive as the best parts of your business as well as how much research they have done!
3. How have you delegated tasks in the past?
Instead of just recruiting entry level employees, always lookout for future leaders. By asking them how they have delegated tasks gives you a better idea on their leadership skills and techniques.
4. Why do you want to work at this company? What expectations do you have?
This question gets right into finding out if the applicant is the right fit for your company. For example, do they want to join your startup and help it grow? Do they like the challenge of working with limited resources? Do they want to be a part of a collaborative environment? Or are they just wanting a wage each month?
5. Was there ever a time when you didn’t know how to do something? How did you overcome it
When you’re in a high growth business it must be expected that employees wear multiple hats and help others with their workload.
6. Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
You can learn a lot from people’s role models since it can give you a clue on their behaviour patterns, work ethics and values
7. If you could start your own business, what would it be and why?
Asking this question gives you an idea on how strong the entrepreneurial spirit is in the applicant.
8.”What’s your superpower…or if you were an animal what would you be?
Whether you know it or not, we all have some sort of super power or connection to an animal. Sharing this information will assist you in determining how the applicant will overcome obstacles and what type of employee they will be.
9. Can you elaborate on your hobbies?
A candidate’s hobbies let’s you know what they’re passionate about and how that can fit with the culture of my company.
10. What do you love best about the culture here?
This is a great final question since it lets you know why they will keep coming back to work each and everyday and deliver 100 percent – here’s a clue, it’s not just the salary. If their answer sounds too superficial, then this candidate might not be a solid fit in your culture.
