Interviews as a tool for selection suffer from a basic problem. When asked what they would do in a particular situation, candidates will often give the answer which they feel the interviewer wants to hear. Most responses are pre-rehearsed (if the candidate has done their homework) and may not give you as interviewer an insight into some important attributes of character, ethos, committment, motivation. I saw these 25 interview questions, and thought they might throw up some interesting and spontaneous responses. 1 What is your current boss doing wrong? 2 Tell me about a time you misjudged a person. 3 Do you check your emails when you’re on holiday? 4 If the day was 25 hours long, what would you do with that extra hour? 5 Do you have a role model? If so, who is it and why? 6 If you could try any job for a week, what would you do? 7 What circumstance brings you here today? 8 If I gave you £5000 right now, what would you do with it? 9 How do you stack a dishwasher? 10 How do I rate as an interviewer? 11 What would your work colleagues say about you? 12 Why did you choose to wear that shirt today? 13 In your view, what are the major problems in our industry? 14 Rank these in the order of importance: power, health, status, wealth. 15. What is your biggest achievement? 16 How would you react if you discovered that a colleague doesn’t like you? 17 Give an example of when you have learnt from a mistake. 18 If you did not have to work, what would you do? 19 Who in the public eye would you most like to punch? 20 Why is your best friend your best friend? 21 Tell me about your biggest failure. 22 What did you have for breakfast today? 23 Who has made the biggest impact on your professional life, and why? 24 If you were me and I were you, why wouldn’t I hire you? 25 You’re stuck on a desert island, but items such as food and water were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?
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