It’s best to have one or two questions for each requirement that ask about the person’s skills (positive questions). Then you need at least one question that asks how the candidate dealt with an issue in that area (negative questions). [3] X Research source You should prepare questions that are flexible, open-ended, and which all come equipped with at least two or three follow-up questions that you can ask depending on the answer to the original question. Here are a few general rules for preparing questions for an interview. Don’t ask any “yes” or “no” questions or questions that can be answered in just a few words. Ask questions that allow the person you’re interviewing to expand. Ask just one question at a time. Asking more than one at a time will overwhelm your interviewee. Ask questions that are relevant to your objectives. This is an important point. You can make them creative as long as they meet your needs. Don’t ask questions that are so broad that your subject doesn’t know how to answer them. Your subject should be directed enough to know what type of an answer you’re looking for. [4] X Research source Have extra questions on hand. Interviews can cause people to go blank, so it’s courteous to have other questions the person can answer. [5] X Research source
Doing so will mean you are at least somewhat acquainted with the candidate before she walks in the room. That way, you can ask better questions, and the interview will flow better, putting both of you at ease. [7] X Research source
For instance, start by saying how delighted you are to meet the candidate with a smile and a handshake. [10] X Research source
You don’t need to let her know what you already know about her. Rather, say something along the lines of, “It’s such beautiful weather. I’d love to get to the beach this weekend. " Don’t be afraid of a little small talk. [13] X Expert Source Shannon O’Brien, MA, EdMLife & Career Coach Expert Interview. 24 September 2021. Take some time to ask about the person’s day or make a small joke about the hot weather.
For instance, you could say, “I was really interested in the fact that you had attended a workshop on grant writing, and that’s one of the reasons we brought you in. [14] X Research source As an added bonus, you can use this time to offer her a compliment.
You could also ask other small questions about how the interviewee got there, such as “Did you have trouble finding us?” or “Have you been here before?"[16] X Research source
You can phrase this question several ways, even as a statement. For instance, you could say “Tell me more about yourself,” “Why did you apply for this job?” or “What do you think makes you a good candidate for this role?”
For instance, if she notes that she has a background in art, ask her how that could help her in this position. Additionally, be sure to look at her when she’s speaking. It’s fine to jot down the occasional note, but try not to be writing the whole time.
For instance, maybe she already mentioned that she’s had several jobs in your field and listed how they’re relevant, which means you can delete any question that comes later about that topic. If she says she pays attention to detail and you were planning on asking her how her skills fit the job, you could tweak the question a little by saying, “I heard you say you are detail-oriented. How do you think that will help you in this position?”
