{"id":11319,"date":"2021-12-01T07:29:23","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T15:29:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/?p=11319"},"modified":"2024-04-04T09:28:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T16:28:46","slug":"unique-interview-questions-to-ask-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/unique-interview-questions-to-ask-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"19 Unique and Creative Interview Questions to Ask Candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Job interviews can be a tricky balancing act. On the one hand, you don\u2019t want to ask the same questions candidates have heard in countless interviews in the past, as this might encourage canned, rehearsed responses. Questions like \u201cWhat are your three greatest weaknesses?\u201d and \u201cWhere do you see yourself in five years?\u201d are common for a reason<\/a>\u2014they\u2019re good questions\u2014but they certainly won\u2019t inspire candid and spontaneous responses.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, you don\u2019t want to get too creative with your questions, as that may make the candidate feel uncomfortable. Worse still, you might end up with notes full of random information you don\u2019t know what to do with.<\/p>\n

To help with your candidate vetting profess, the hiring experts at KnowledgeCity have compiled twenty creative questions that have been found to inspire honest and insightful candidate responses.
\n\"Two<\/a><\/p>\n

1. What would your family say is the most unique thing about you?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In addition to setting a lighter tone, a question like this allows you to see a person\u2019s willingness to be open while also hinting that your company encourages unique ideas and values diversity.<\/p>\n

2. What\u2019s one thing you\u2019d want to remove from your daily or weekly work routine?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The candidate\u2019s answer to this can reveal what they\u2019re willing to tolerate. It might also prompt them to reveal more about their work-related weaknesses.<\/p>\n

3. How would you try to convince a friend to work for us?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This is a clever way of asking, \u201cDid you do your research on our company?\u201d But it also serves as a barometer of their excitement levels toward the position.<\/p>\n

4. Tell me about a time a job or company wasn\u2019t a great fit.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Most people have worked in a job that wasn\u2019t ideally suited to their skills or personality. Asking this question can reveal what qualities a candidate is looking for in a position or company.<\/p>\n

5. Can you share a time you were at work and thought \u201cI love doing this! I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m getting paid right now?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In contrast to the last question, this helps you see what kinds of things make your potential hire feel the most empowered to perform as well as where their passions lie.<\/p>\n

6. Who in your life has helped you achieve your goals?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This question helps you see if the candidate has achieved goals they\u2019ve set for themselves, and it also helps determine what kinds of people might be good mentors for the candidate. Part of a solid on-boarding program is a mentor match, and this question can help you figure out who on your team could help this new hire grow.<\/p>\n

7. What or who has prevented you from reaching a goal?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This lets you see if they\u2019re willing to take responsibility for their shortcomings, but also serves as a way to see who in your office may clash with this person.<\/p>\n

8. What work pet peeves do you have?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not a bad thing for a potential hire to have aspects of their work they don\u2019t particularly enjoy. This question allows for some light-hearted banter about office life and can also give you some ideas on how you might make their first weeks in the office more comfortable.<\/p>\n

9. You\u2019re here to sell yourself\u2026 What’s your brand motto?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This lets you see how well a candidate can come up with something creative on the spot. This may be a particularly good question for people interviewing for a marketing, advertising or sales position.<\/p>\n

10. Share a story about a time you failed.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Failure is a part of life. Asking about it can help you see if a candidate is the type to take responsibility for their mistakes. If they tell you about how they came up with solutions and transformed their failure into a success, that\u2019s an added bonus.<\/p>\n

11. Let\u2019s say you\u2019re doing the hiring. What would you look for in a candidate for this job?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This question is a fun spin on the classic \u201cTell me about your strengths.\u201d A great candidate will list a few things about themselves in their response. This question can also serve as a test to see how they make decisions and how well they understand the duties and responsibilities of the position.<\/p>\n

12. What was the last gift you gave someone and why?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The candidate\u2019s response can say a lot of his or her personality. Are they considerate? Thoughtful? Creative?<\/p>\n

13. How would your previous boss describe you?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This question can reveal whether things went smoothly at their last job. If the candidate is quick to respond, it was likely a mutual break. If there is some hesitation or teeth-clenching, you may want to ask follow up questions to try to uncover what the issues may have been.<\/p>\n

14. What excites you?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This question can help you see if your company culture aligns with the things that motivate the candidate most.<\/p>\n

15. Think back to your best day last month or last year. What were you doing?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This question can show you a lot about a potential hire, as it can demonstrate what they\u2019re proud of, what they value and who they spend their time with.<\/p>\n

16. How would you say your values align with our company values?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This is another question that can serve a couple of purposes. First, it lets you know if the potential hire is familiar with your company values, and second, it speaks to whether this candidate would make a good cultural fit.<\/p>\n

17. What is something you\u2019re considered an expert in?<\/span> <\/strong><\/h3>\n

This question will put people at ease (because everyone loves to talk about their hobbies and areas of expertise), and it might show you how confident and well rounded the candidate is. It can also give you a chance to learn where the candidate\u2019s passions may lie outside of work.<\/p>\n

18. Can you share with us an embarrassing moment where you were able to laugh at yourself?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The ability not to take oneself too seriously is an asset in any position. If the candidate seems comfortable sharing an embarrassing story, this is a good sign he or she is laid back and self-assured.<\/p>\n

19. What\u2019s something you haven\u2019t told us in this interview, but that we\u2019d find out about after working with you?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This serves as a good sign off, as it leaves them feeling confident and also gives them one more chance to share something about themselves that wasn\u2019t written on their resume.<\/p>\n

How to Pick the Best Interview Questions<\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Know Your Company Culture<\/strong>
    \nHaving a clearly defined company culture benefits every stakeholder in your business. Employees know what you stand for and can work to reflect it, and clients and potential investors can see what\u2019s most important to you.Having a deep knowledge of your company culture allows you to weave it into your interview questions. This can assist you in determining who will best align with your company\u2019s goals and strengths.<\/li>\n
  • Get Up Close and Personal<\/strong>
    \nPick questions that will encourage honest, unscripted responses. Look for ways to cut through the pleasantries and people-pleasing answers to get to the heart of who this candidate is and what their true motivations are.And remember, it goes both ways. Be transparent about the position\u2019s responsibilities. You want the candidate to feel confident your company is a good fit, too.<\/li>\n
  • Ask to Empower<\/strong>
    \nAsking questions that encourage your potential hire to feel good about themselves benefits everyone. Make sure each question has a purpose and isn\u2019t just being creative for creativity\u2019s sake. Let them know when a \u201cfun\u201d question is coming so they can feel at ease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How KnowledgeCity Can Help<\/h3>\n