What are your best most revealing interview questions?

[HoliHormonalTigerlilly]

Putting together a list.

Are you the potential employer or candidate?

Employer.

You need to think about what you are looking for before you start thinking about the most revealing questions. So start with the competencies- values, qualities, attitudes the person needs to be successful in your company. Ensure they have those first then test for skill and knowledge.

The most revealing thing for me is to just have a chat with the candidate.

Generally, if you're interviewing someone they have the technical knowledge so you can use the interview to find out whether they are someone that's easy to get on with.

It's also useful to find out what they hope their future career will be and on what timescale so you know if they just consider the role something to fill the gap until the job they prefer is available, so won't stay for long.

We were recruiting a lot of people and would take on all suitable people. It would have been hard to use this way of interviewing if you had to explain your choice between candidates.

It also increases the risk of unconscious bias creeping in, so you need to be careful. We ended up with a very diverse team, so it can be overcome but should be considered.

My boss told me everyone else they interviewed had more experience and qualifications that me (yeah thaks for that!), but l gave her a feeling that none of the others did and she went with her gut and regularly tells me she knows she was right to do that.
As for actual questions dopends on the job itself l guess - l would be looking for confidence and assertiveness.

I like questions about resolving conflicts, work and personal. Skills and experience are important of course but I want to know how they interact with others and in most jobs there will be some conflict whether it be personality clashes or work disagreements.

I also like a question on how team mates would describe them. Team fit is important and gets missed out quite a bit just because someone can actually do the job.

What made you apply for this role? I always ask that as an opener because I’m interested to know if they wanted this particular job or just want any only job/chasing promotion (a particular problem in civil service)

As in interviewee, I hate 'tricksy' questions, intended to be revealing. They just make accomplished liars and bullshitters look good.

Many excellent candidates will be thrown by them and freeze or gabble, which then throws them off balance for the rest of the interview, so they cannot show you the best of themselves.

Interviews are a uniquely weird, stressful situation. I don't buy the line that they're no different from a presentation, or high pressure meeting once in a a role. I've done all of those and they're not.

The potential employers I have respected the most have been those that respected their interviewees and tried to put them at ease. That is, I have respected them because of that but more so, there has been a close correlation between their behaviour at interview stage and as employers.

I realise that 'revealing' doesn't necessary mean tricksy but often it does. Just ask normal questions, related to the role and competency description you provided in the application pack, listen to what people say and follow up conversationally, if relevant. IMO good interviews are based on good rapport. Don't blow that but trying too hard to be 'clever'.

I sometimes ask candidates "which is more important out of doing things quickly and doing things well?"

Obviously there is no correct/incorrect answer, but it does give you a feel for a persons attention to detail, responsiveness and the standards that they hold themselves to.

From recent interviews: name a job from your CV which you enjoyed the most and why - (I chose what I thought was the closest match to the job I was attempting to interview for at the time) but this actually got turned on me that I must have been unhappy for so many years following said job..!! (it was an odd interview to be fair) I wonder if I had said why all jobs as they've made it to the CV! but that probably would have been obnoxious.

A few recent job interviews too; I've noticed the what do you enjoy hobby-wise coming back.

Pretty personal - I would like to see interviews ask can we get references from all of your roles/x number of years - this could open up a helpful conversation as it where, if there any issues, getting it out there/known about sooner. I only say this as I once asked a question of the interviewer concerning a reference and it somewhat dumb funded them, but in my mind there is nothing worse then it being sprung on you later down the line, indeed that so many references are needed/preferred. This is a question I've known my Jobcentre to ask when they look over your CV at first appointment, so why shouldn't Employers.

I like just chatting to people
If they could design their own team what would it look and feel like
Due diligence- does anyone know them

@lottiegarbanzo

As in interviewee, I hate 'tricksy' questions, intended to be revealing. They just make accomplished liars and bullshitters look good.

Many excellent candidates will be thrown by them and freeze or gabble, which then throws them off balance for the rest of the interview, so they cannot show you the best of themselves.

Interviews are a uniquely weird, stressful situation. I don't buy the line that they're no different from a presentation, or high pressure meeting once in a a role. I've done all of those and they're not.

The potential employers I have respected the most have been those that respected their interviewees and tried to put them at ease. That is, I have respected them because of that but more so, there has been a close correlation between their behaviour at interview stage and as employers.

I realise that 'revealing' doesn't necessary mean tricksy but often it does. Just ask normal questions, related to the role and competency description you provided in the application pack, listen to what people say and follow up conversationally, if relevant. IMO good interviews are based on good rapport. Don't blow that but trying too hard to be 'clever'.

This.

Thank you for the thoughtful answers.

Completely agree about putting people at ease!

I would obviously be of the mind that someone is capable of doing the job based on the fact I had invited them to interview.

And would for the most part ask questions related to the JD/ competencies etc...

But I do think it's nice to add a random question in there. Something that let's me see a bit beyond the stock answers to the expected questions.

In most jobs we all have to respond to unexpected events on occasion & I think a lighthearted random question can be revealing of someone's character.

I also like to know how they think their previous colleagues would describe what they are like to work with. Team fit is very important imo.