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The success of any hire isn’t just about technical skills or years of experience—it’s about finding the right person who can thrive in the role, solve problems effectively, and adapt to challenges. Yet, many traditional interview questions fail to assess these qualities.
Instead of asking predictable questions like "What are your strengths and weaknesses?", hiring managers should focus on behavioural and situational interview techniques that uncover a candidate’s true potential.
Many common interview questions are overly broad, invite rehearsed responses, or don’t provide insights into how a candidate will actually perform on the job.
Problems with Generic Questions:
Behavioural interview questions focus on how a candidate handled situations in the past, which can indicate how they will perform in the future.
Key Questions to Ask:
1. Tell me about a time you faced an unexpected problem at work. How did you handle it?
2. Describe a situation where you had to quickly learn something new to complete a task. How did you approach it?
3. Can you give an example of a time when you had to persuade others to see things your way?
Situational questions present hypothetical challenges and gauge how a candidate would handle them.
Key Questions to Ask:
1. If you were assigned a project with a tight deadline and incomplete instructions, how would you proceed?
2. Imagine you’re leading a team, and two team members strongly disagree on an approach. How would you handle the situation?
3. Your manager asks you to take on a responsibility outside of your job description. How would you respond?
Hiring the right talent isn’t just about skills—it’s about finding candidates who align with the company’s values and work culture.
Key Questions to Ask:
1. What type of work environment allows you to do your best work?
2. Describe a time you worked in a team that wasn’t functioning well. How did you handle it?
3. How do you like to receive feedback? Can you give an example of a time when feedback helped you improve?
A structured interview process—where all candidates are asked the same carefully designed questions—leads to more objective hiring decisions and better predictive accuracy.
Steps to Implement a Structured Interview Approach:
1. Define Key Competencies – Identify the must-have skills, qualities, and values for the role.
2. Develop a Standardised Question Set – Ensure all candidates answer the same behavioural, situational, and cultural fit questions.
3. Use a Rating System – Score responses consistently to minimise bias.
4. Train Hiring Managers – Equip interviewers with the right skills to assess candidates effectively.
A structured interview process—where all candidates are asked the same carefully designed questions—leads to more objective hiring decisions and better predictive accuracy.
Steps to Implement a Structured Interview Approach:
1. Define Key Competencies – Identify the must-have skills, qualities, and values for the role.
2. Develop a Standardised Question Set – Ensure all candidates answer the same behavioural, situational, and cultural fit questions.
3. Use a Rating System – Score responses consistently to minimise bias.
4. Train Hiring Managers – Equip interviewers with the right skills to assess candidates effectively.
Recruit Mint cover temporary, contract and permanent recruitment within a 60-mile radius of Peterborough, with a total of over 80 years’ experience within the recruitment industry, you can be safe in the knowledge that you are truly dealing with industry experts.
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