How To Prepare Your Interview Questions
Updated: Aug 7
Read more to get tips on how to prepare your interview questions and
get the right talent for your company.
Interview questions are a key part of any recruitment process and can have a significant impact on the quality of your hires. As an employer, you want to ensure that the people you bring into your team are the best fit for the job. That’s why it’s important to ask the right questions during the recruitment process. We've listed down 8 important tips that can be your guide on your interview questions preparation.
8 TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE YOUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. START WITH JOB REQUIREMENTS
Before you start preparing your interview questions, make sure you have a clear understanding of the job requirements based on the job title and description you established.
This will help you ask relevant questions that will help you assess the candidate's skills and experience.
2. ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. These types of questions encourage candidates to provide detailed answers, which can help you learn more about their thought processes, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills.
3. FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
Behavioral questions are those that seek to understand how a candidate has handled specific situations in the past. These types of questions can give you insights into how they may approach similar scenarios in your workplace.
A behavioral approach will determine the candidate's competencies based on knowledge and experience. Asking them these questions will allow you to identify if their skills are qualified for the position your company requires.
4. USE HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS
Hypothetical scenarios can be useful for assessing how candidates might handle challenging or complex situations they could encounter while working for your organization.
Situational questions will also reveal the candidate’s reaction and his or her ability to respond to future situations based on experience or past events in relation to his or her skillset.
5. CONSIDER CULTURAL FIT
It's important to consider cultural fit when preparing your interview questions. You want to make sure your candidate's values, personality, and work style align with your company culture.
“The result of poor culture fit due to turnover can cost an organization between 50-60% of the person’s annual salary, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).”
Prioritize ensuring the candidate will best fit your company culture to avoid high attrition rate. Start asking questions that align with your company’s core values during the interview.
6. USE A MIX OF TECHNICAL AND SOFT SKILL QUESTIONS
Depending on the role, it may be necessary to ask technical questions to ensure the candidate understands certain aspects of the job. But don't forget to ask soft skill questions as well, as these can often be just as important.
Here is a sample guide for the interview questions on hard skills vs soft skills, according to Indeed.com:
7. ALLOW TIME FOR CANDIDATES TO ASK THEIR OWN QUESTIONS
After asking all your prepared interview questions, make sure to leave time for candidates to ask any additional queries they may have about the role or company.
Encouraging candidates to ask questions shows how you value communication as an employer.
8. REVIEW AND REFINE OVER TIME
After conducting several interviews using your prepared question set, take some time to review their effectiveness and refine them if needed for future use. This can help ensure maximum efficiency in selecting the right candidates for each position within your business.
The right interview questions can help you identify the ideal candidate for a job and increase your team's efficiency, productivity, and your profit.
At 365BOOKSPRO, we understand the importance of interviews for businesses and their impact on the success of your team. That is why our team of experts provides you with access to the global pool of talents, so you can grow your business more efficiently. By leveraging with our outsourcing solutions, you can dramatically reduce labor costs by as much as 70%— saving your company money and resources. Interviewing potential employees is an incredibly valuable process that should not be taken lightly. With the right questions, you can assess a candidate’s skills, experience, and strengths—and make sure they are the right fit for your team.
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References:
People, Corvus. “Does Culture Matter?” LinkedIn, www.linkedin.com/pulse/does-culture-matter-corvusbelfast/. Accessed 25 June 2023.
“Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What’s the Difference? | Indeed.Com.” Indeed, www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills. Accessed 26 June 2023.