Newsletter: Feb 2003

20 Interview Questions for Passive Candidates.

What makes some recruiters and hiring managers more successful than others? Their ability to effectively interview and close candidates. From a hiring perspective, the ultimate measure of success is whether or not you filled the position. And the one thing that can insure a successful hire is the interview. It is the cornerstone of any staffing strategy. Done properly, it not only helps you determine if the candidate is qualified, but it also provides valueable insight into the candidate's thought process; what is important to them and how they make their decisions. It will be the best aid in setting the expecations during the hiring process and most importantly the closing process. You can use their answers to help form the basis of an offer that will close the candidate on your job.

Consistency is Key

Remember to use the same interview with every candidate. This insures consistency and will help you in the qualitative analysis to determine the final candidate. It also ensures that every candidate will be measured by the same set of criteria. Every question ultimately is about getting the information you need to close them. Assume every candidate you interview is the one that will be offered the job, and using the questions below will help you guide the candidate to the appropriate conclusion. It will also help reduce last minute red flags that tend to interupt what would have otherwise been a successful close.

1. What would be your ideal job at this time?
2. What would you consider to be your main area of expertise?
3. What do you like most about your current employer?
4. What do you like least or what would you change about your current employer?
5. Why would you leave?
6. What one thing motivates you the most?
7. What would your co-workers say about you?
8. What would you have done differently in your career?
9. How do you measure your own success?
10. What is the most interesting project you've done in the last 3 years at work?
11. What are you most proud of?
12. What are the 3 most important things your next position must have?
    Why should we hire you?
13. What would keep you from coming here if we were to offer you the position?
14. Is there anyone else that would be involved in making that decision?
    What is going to happen when you resign?
15. How did they react the last time someone resigned at your company?
16. What would your references say about you?
17. Strengths?
18. Weaknesses?
19. If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?
20. What is your total compensation package?

Happy Interviewing!

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