For the interview process, best management practices include:
- Creating a list of written interview questions before interviewing begins
- Writing the questions based on the job description—specifically, the skills, abilities, and experience required for the position
- Asking the same questions of all candidates
- Making objective and factual notes of each interview
- Selecting the candidate who is the most qualified or at least equally qualified as other candidates compared to the selection criteria you established
Effective interviewers:
- Are completely prepared
- Give the candidate undivided attention
- Put the candidate at ease
- Ask open-ended questions
- Listen at least 80% of the time
Sample Questions
Attention to Detail
- Can you give an example of a time when an important detail was missed in your work? What was the result? What did you do to correct the situation?
- When you have come across errors in your own work, what have they been and how did you handle it?
Creativity
- How much creativity is possible in your work?
Decision-making
- Let's say you need to make a decision about __________. What steps would you take?
- What kind of decisions did you have to make as a ____? Do you think you made the right choice? Why?
- Tell me about the most difficult decision you have had to make in your position at ___.
Integrity
- Rules sometimes have to be bent or broken. Can you tell me about a time when you had to do this?
- How far have you bent your standards to succeed in previous jobs? Give me an example.
Initiative
- Did you have duties in your job as a ____ that were not included in your job description?
- Have you ever done more than was required for a job?
- Did you take on any new responsibilities in your last job?
- What are some projects that you initiated? Why?
- Were there any rules or policies at ____ that you didn't agree with? What did you do about it?
Knowledge
- How have you kept on top of the current trends in ______?
- What job-related conferences, seminars, etc., have you attended recently and what did you learn from them?
Learning
- How did you learn the duties of your previous position and how long did it take before you could comfortably perform them on your own?
- What formal training have you had? How did you do?
- What subjects or courses are the hardest for you to learn and why?
- What subjects or courses are the easiest for you to learn and why?
Management
- Is there something about your management style you would like to change?
- What have you done in your previous supervisory positions to make your subordinates' jobs easier or more rewarding?
Motivation
- What did you enjoy the most about your previous job and why? Least and why?
- All jobs have their frustrations. What duties or conditions have you found most dissatisfying in your previous job and why?
- What has been your greatest work achievement and why?
- What factors do you consider most important in evaluating the success of your work?
Organization
- How do you keep yourself organized?
Performance Standards
- How do you define doing a good job in your current position?
- How is your performance in your current job? How do you know?
- Have you ever been displeased with your own performance? When, why, and what did you do about it?
- Have you ever disagreed with you supervisor on your performance evaluation?
- Can you give me a couple of examples of times when you've produced work above standard and below standard?
Problem-solving
- What were some of the more complex assignments you were given? Describe some of the steps necessary to complete the assignment.
- If you find errors in your work, how do you handle it?
- Have you ever identified a problem before your supervisor? What did you do?
Satisfaction
- What achievements are you most proud of? Why?
- What factors do you consider when evaluating your success?
- What parts of your job as a _____ did you enjoy? What parts did you not enjoy?