Stop Wasting Time & Money

The Must-Have Interview Guide for Small Businesses

There is nothing more important than the initial screening interview when hiring a new team member. You don't just want the right skills, you also want the right fit so that you ENJOY your new team member.

So how can you be sure what you are asking is going to give you the best insights into each person's work ethic and personality to ensure the right fit?

When I interview, I fashion the questions to give me very specific answers so I'm confident I know who I'm hiring and what type of person I will be spending time with each week. Want my cheat sheet now? CLICK HERE to download my Standard Interview Questions & Hiring Guidelines or keep reading to learn how to create your own! Each question I ask is crafted to help me understand...

1. Personality and Character Insights: Questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "What are a few things you are most passionate about?" aim to understand the candidate's personality, interests, and motivations. These questions help gauge if the person's character aligns with the company's values and culture.
   

2. Job and Skill Relevance: Questions such as "What appeals to you about this position?" and "Tell me about a project or task that you have completed with excellence" focus on the candidate's understanding of the job role, the relevant skills, and past experiences that demonstrate they can demonstrate competency.
   

3. Work Ethic and Growth Mindset: Questions like "Describe your work ethic as a teenager" and "Tell me about your biggest failure in a work or team setting" are designed to assess the candidate's work ethic, ability to learn from experiences, and their growth over time.
   

4. Adaptability and Problem-Solving: Queries about handling stress, difficult tasks, and challenging people test the candidate's problem-solving skills, adaptability, and conflict resolution abilities.
   

5. Career Goals and Expectations: Questions such as "How long do you see yourself in this position?" and those related to pay expectations help understand the candidate's career aspirations and whether they align with what the company can offer.
   

6. Leadership and Team Dynamics: Asking about leadership styles and who they like to follow reveals the candidate's perception of effective leadership and their potential as a future leader in your company.
   

7. Practical Skills Assessment: The suggestion of sample tasks for advancing candidates provides a practical assessment of their skills, ensuring they can meet the job requirements.
   

8. Open Communication: Encouraging candidates to ask questions and providing clear next steps fosters an open communication environment, crucial for any role.
   

Overall, these questions are designed to provide a comprehensive view of the candidate, assessing not just their technical abilities, but also their personality, work ethic, problem-solving skills, and alignment with the company's culture and expectations. Download my Standard Interview Questions & Hiring Guidelines to get my detailed interview guide that tells you exactly what to ask, in what order, along with what you are looking for from the candidate's response. Or craft your own questions using my tips above!

Join me next week when I talk about a simple way to organize candidates and best practices for communicating. And join my newsletter anytime for more tips delivered right to your inbox!