Proven Interview Questions

CareerBuilder Asked Their Readers, and They Responded. The Result Is a Set of the Best of the Best Interview Questions. (Part I)

CareerBuilder.com asked their users to identify the best interview questions that they have asked candidates, or that interviewers have asked them as candidates. 600 readers responded and CareerBuilder selected 10 of the very best questions, with more to come in the near future.

They compiled a comprehensive list of the best of the best interview questions – the ones their readers swear by – from the old standbys, to some new classics, to the downright bizarre.

They released the results in a two-part series. This first part of this series features the top 10 interview questions that stood out as being both original and purposeful. The questions are followed by submitters’ comments. We hope they will be of value to your company's efforts to hire the best people for the positions you need to fill. The following are just two of the questions.

What does a company owe its employees? “The interviewer learns more about what true expectations a candidate has for a company.”
What Web sites do you visit on a regular basis? “The answer to this question tells me if the applicant is aware of industry-related websites and keeps up with industry trends and news and is therefore more qualified for the position.”
If you were to be hired, what do you think would be a reason you may not stay in this position or with the company? “The answers to this question may really surprise you. I.e. ‘I’d leave for more money,’ or ‘If I didn’t like my co-worker,’ or ‘we’re trying to move back to my hometown.’ Red flags for sure.”
What risks did you take in your last position? “I like this question because it lets me know what I can expect from a candidate. Are they willing to step outside the box?”
If an employee went about a task in a way which clearly contradicted your instruction, yet was highly successful. How would you handle it? “When hiring for a management position I like to ask a candidate [this question]. You can gauge a lot about their management style by how they handle the situation and what they focus on in this scenario.”
Tell me what your ‘ideal’ work day/week would consist of. “I want the candidate to convey what’s important in terms of applied work time; processing time; down time, if any.”
Things don’t always go the way we’d like; sometimes we cannot deliver on a promised deadline. What is the best way to deliver a negative message to your customer? “This can give you insight to how the candidate thinks, and their honesty and integrity.”
Tell me when you used your sense of humor to diffuse a situation. “Most large corporations and many small ones feel that a sense of humor is not needed and it is not encouraged. We firmly believe that a happy employee is a productive one.”
What was the most useful criticism you ever received, and who was it from? “You learn what kind of feedback the person is receiving so you can determine their performance. It gives you insight into their weaknesses that others view as well.”
What sorts of trends do you think affect our business? “Good to see if they understand business influences and if they’ve spent time trying to learn about our industry.”

Posted on CareerBuilder.com's The Hiring Site by Mary Lorenz.