It is time to fill a vacancy in your team.
You have to determine which of the numerous candidates who have applied have the right combination of required skills, professional experience, and culture fit for the vacant position.
Making a mistake and hiring the wrong person could have negative consequences for you and your team.
But how do you make the right choice and hire the right person? Is the interview enough to determine whether the candidate will be the right fit? It can be—if you ask the right questions.
In this post, we will look into the exact questions you should be including in your interviews: questions that are unexpected and <weird, but certainly helpful in finding the right candidate.
1. “If you could choose between being invisible or being able to fly, which would you choose?”
At first, it may sound a bit weird to ask this question. However, Forbes found it to be a great indicator of potential leadership ability, as over 70% of surveyed leaders chose flying over being invisible.
When you think about it, the question is actually asking whether a candidate prefers to be in the spotlight or behind-the-scenes.
Both answers are fine, and this shouldn’t be the only way you determine a candidate’s culture fit, and personality. However, it is a great indicator of where someone could have the most impact on your team.
2. “If you could compare yourself to any animal, which animal would it be and why?”
This question can help you see how creative, innovative, and quick-thinking a candidate is.
Your candidates should use this question as an opportunity to talk about their strengths and good character.
3. “How many books could fit in this room?”
While this question is usually intended for candidates applying primarily for technical positions that require a lot of complex problem-solving skills, you can also ask it to candidates applying for other positions.
The point of this question is to see how the candidates will approach resolving tasks rather than providing an accurate answer. This question is frequently used to determine the candidate’s logical thinking abilities.
4. “What is your favorite fairytale, and why?”
By asking the candidates this question, you will relax the atmosphere a bit, which makes this a great conversation starter.
Besides being a great ice-breaker, this question will help you understand the candidate’s personal traits and their typical behavior.
5. “What do you believe in that most people don’t?”
This is another question that will help you determine the candidate’s personality more in-depth.
For example, asking it might help you figure out how deeply your candidates think about certain questions and to estimate their general cultural awareness.
6. “Are you a hunter or a gatherer?”
The answer to this question will help you determine the primary strengths and weaknesses of a candidate. Even though there is no correct answer, the answer can usually help with determining the type of job the candidate would be good at.
For example, an analyst is more likely to be a gatherer because they search for and analyze large amounts of data and information. On the other hand, an account executive should be the hunting type, as they are the ones that should be able to win over the clients and catch new opportunities.
7. “What board game do you like the most?”
Ask this question to reveal the candidate’s strengths, as well as their preferable work activities.
A Monopoly lover is most likely a person that has strong strategic thinking abilities. They are also more likely to be ambitious and ready to spend long hours resolving a challenging task.
8. “What would you do if another employer suggests a salary that is twice higher than the salary we offer?”
This is a tough one, and there is no correct answer to give.
However, you should still check for signs that will tell you whether or not a candidate is giving a sincere answer. If a candidate is assuring you that they would never accept such an offer without giving a proper explanation, that could mean that they are being dishonest with you.
9. “If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be?”
Another great ice-breaker, as it will make even the most serious candidates laugh.
This question aims to help the candidate relax and lets them know they are in a friendly circle of people. It allows you to look into some of their traits, their sens