Active listeners are fully focused and have much more potential to listen with intent, attention, and maintain eye contact. Is this true for active listeners who are going for a job interview?
This is the question that comes in my mind at the very first when I choose to write for this topic.
But how to do that effectively? It is all about the questions you ask. As Oprah Winfrey says, “Ask the right questions, and the answers will always reveal themselves.”
Obviously, you want the best fit for your team, and believe me, the right questions can make all the difference. It is not difficult, with the right practice, it will be like asking questions to a friend.
So, here are some of the list of top 30 questions that give you an orientation of how to get prepared for a job interview and how to answer in various situations. Such as:
- Giving proper answers to open-ended or closed-ended questions?
- Giving answers to questions that support emotional intelligence?
- Asking casual questions to understand career goals and mapping?
In this article, I will share 30 smart questions to ask in an interview, so you get properly ready for the hiring!
Smart guide to finding a perfect fit for your team
As an HR manager, I’ve conducted countless interviews over the years. I’ve seen good interviews, bad interviews, and everything in between.
I believe the best interviews are where both the interviewer and the interviewee are comfortable. In this situation, questions could be asked to a guy related to anything and a girl, despite gender differentiation. So, this way you create a comfortable environment that will lead to an engaging conversation.
Interviews are a two-way street; not only do you evaluate candidates with some good questions to ask in an interview, but they also look if the company aligns with their goals.
Candidates nowadays prepare for the unique interview questions to ask employers.
So, give them enough space to ask questions from you. Then you can come up with the best interview questions to ask your interviewees as much as you want.
In my experience, these are the best questions to ask in an interview.
30 smart questions to ask in an interview
Don’t rely on the resume; go beyond it. Ask these smart questions and uncover the real story behind your interviewee’s experience. Think of a situation where you include some kind of query relevant to your spouse, family, or social circle.
Therefore, some situations are further discussed here to help you understand each point more efficiently:
1. Smart questions to understand the candidate’s background
With these questions, you will know what your potential colleague thinks about the job you are offering. You are looking for what they value in a job.
- Why did you choose this role, and what have you learned from it?
- How has your role evolved since you first started?
- Can you tell me about a time you overcame a challenge at work?
2. Smart ways to assess if the candidate will be a cultural fit
Not only do you require skilled candidates, but you also want them to be a positive addition to your team. Try to find out the candidate's perspective on how they perceive strangers. This will help you understand their personality traits.
So, match your culture by asking these:
- Why are you interested in working for our company?
- How do you prefer to give and receive feedback?
- Can you describe the ideal work environment?
3. Questions to ask during an interview for problem-solving skills
You want to hire someone who can handle challenges independently. So, use these questions to evaluate their critical thinking ability.
Try to portray a quick short story and ask various questions related to any person. This will help you understand the employee's perspective on how the situations can be handled.
There are some scenarios that will help you understand how the candidate thinks in this particular situation:
- Have you ever collaborated with other departments? How did you manage that?
- What’s the most complex problem you’ve solved?
- Have you ever faced a situation when the obvious solution was not the right solution?
- What is your plan to handle tight deadlines?
4. Strategic interview questions to ask candidates to explore the leadership potential
Well! I don’t think you will be looking for a leader in a job interview. It’s always helpful to know if your candidate has management skills.
This is how you can ask questions to female as well as male contestants without gender differentiation. This kind of thinking can help you discover the hidden talents and future goals of the candidates:
- Have you ever led a project or a team? What was your management plan?
- How do you build trust in a new team?
- What’s the most important quality a leader should have?
- How do you handle conflicts within a team?
5. Questions to ask when interviewing someone for a technical role
If you are hiring for a technical role, you cannot afford to appoint a person with any less knowledge than required. And don’t just ask about skills; ask how they apply them too.
- How do you stay current with industry trends and new technologies?
- How do you resolve technical challenges?
- What is the most technical problem you have solved, and how did you do that?
6. Evaluating adaptability and learning, in a smart way
Keep in mind that you are hiring for a long-term placement, so you are looking for employees who are willing to grow and evolve with the company. You just need to check their personal routine and hobbies. For this reason, evaluate the candidate's crush, responsibilities, and other things that reflect their interests. You should ask these questions to evaluate them personally:
- How do you handle changes in your work environment and duties?
- What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your career?
- Have you ever had to adapt to a colleague’s working style?
7. Casual interview questions to ask candidates to understand their career goals
You have to find out if the candidate aligns with your company's vision. Are they in it for the long haul or just looking for a short-term gig? Additionally, what are their future goals, personal relationships, and thoughts about partners?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What skills and knowledge do you hope to develop in the next few years?
- How do you define success in your career?
8. Questions to ask at a job interview for checking emotional intelligence
You think IQ is important in the role you're offering? I say emotional intelligence (EQ) is equally important. Employees should be able to manage their emotions in the workplace.
What's their company and relationship with their friends? This will give you insight into the candidate's social circle and their ability to communicate intellectually.
- How do you handle pressure or stress in your job?
- Have you ever handled a difficult client or colleague?
- How do you handle failures at work?
9. Questions to ask in a job interview for exploring values and work ethic
You don’t want a person shouting at work, do you? Nobody wants that, so you have to pick a candidate who is disciplined and understands work ethics. Ask these smart questions to determine that:
- What would your ideal workday look like?
- What does work-life balance mean to you?
- What one thing would you change about your job?
Red flags to watch for in an interview
I hope you make notes while taking an interview. They are crucial to making a decision and help you prepare questions to ask in a second interview. Compare the answers of all the candidates to your requirements.
One crucial thing you have to keep your eye on is the red flags. They are important in making the final decision. Notice them and note them during the interview.
- The candidate is not able to give real-world examples.
- Those who do not acknowledge mistakes.
- Responses that consistently blame others.
- Answers feel rehearsed or inauthentic.
By the way, you can improve your interview-taking skills by practicing. You can do that by using an AI tool. The AI answer generator is programmed to answer your questions. You can ask it to act like a candidate and it provides you with possible suggestions to reply like one.
This is a very creative and effective way of improving your questions and your skill to ask them.
Take your interviews to the next level
It is the responsibility of an interviewer to find candidates that fit for the job. It’s like asking questions to your partner before marriage. You have to own the decision.
For that, you have to ask questions that go beyond the resume and what a candidate says.
Asking smart questions that can determine the inside story helps you make valuable decisions for the team and the company.
You need to know their background, work ethic, previous experience, goals, skills, etc. So I have categorized 30+ smart questions to ask in an interview into each thing you need to know about your candidates.
So, next time you are in an interview, keep them in your back pocket and hack their minds.
Frequently asked questions
What should I focus on if I have limited time in the interview?
Focus on the most relevant things only. Ask questions about problem-solving, cultural adaptability, and work ethics. See if the candidate uses examples or just says something rehearsed.
How can I tell if a candidate has memorized the answers?
You should ask for problem-solving skills to check that. Be specific and ask them to elaborate their answers with real-world examples. If the answer is memorized, the candidate will not be able to provide examples.
What should I ask first in an interview?
You should start with what a candidate is saying about himself. See if that’s correct, and then move on to the things that are not mentioned. Like work ethics and adaptability.