Best Open Ended Job Interview Questions
During a job interview, open ended questions provide valuable opportunities to peek behind the veil of prepared answers and find out what a job candidate is really like. The following are interview questions designed to get applicants to reveal more about themselves.
1. What accomplishments are you most proud of?
Pay attention to not only how impressive the accomplishments are, but also to how they demonstrate the candidate’s willingness to take the initiative. Self motivated employees can do their jobs without constant supervision or motivational tricks.
2. How would you _______?
This question is designed to test technical knowledge. While candidates may claim to have experience in your industry, a question like this will test whether or not they actually knows what they are doing.
3. Talk about some of your biggest failures or regrets.
This question tests honesty and sense of personal responsibility. Does the candidate take responsibility for their failures or do they blame others? Do they learn from mistakes?
4. If I were to call someone who doesn’t like you, what would that person say about you?
This is a great way to indirectly ask interviewees about their weaknesses. While many applicants come prepared with an answer for the question, “what are your weaknesses,” asking what others think of them can elicit a more transparent response.
5. How have you handled conflict with coworkers in the past?
We all have had at least one conflict with a coworker in the past. If the applicant denies ever having a conflict, dig a little deeper. This question is valuable for helping you determine whether or not a candidate is a good team player.
6. Give me an example of a stressful situation at work and how you handled it. What did you do well? What could you have done better?
The ability to work under pressure is what separates good employees from great ones. For this question, look for specific answers that illustrate strength under pressure.
7. Tell me about the strengths and weaknesses of your last boss.
This can reveal how your applicant reacts to authority. Does he have plenty of bad things to say about his last boss? Does he respond well to professional criticism? Ask for specific examples to back up his evaluation.
You can view a sample of COMPackage’s employee benefit statement.
Great questions and approach, to draw out more of the true skill sets (both technical and interpersonal) and personality of the candidate! I will use some of these questions in my future hiring activities.