This document provides sample interview questions and their goals for getting the right candidates. It includes questions about the applicant's greatest achievement, ideal work environment, oversight needs from a boss, overcoming obstacles, motivation for the position, reasons for leaving current job, important skills, initial actions in the role, coworker feedback, boss feedback, contribution to company goals, and professional development. The goals are to understand the applicant's values, fit with the role and company culture, problem-solving style, self-direction, and commitment to growth.

1. BEST INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
(To get the right candidates)

2. Best Interview Questions
•Interview Question: Tell me about your
greatest achievement at work.
Goal: The applicant’s answer tells a lot about
what the individual values and what he or she
considers important. It also demonstrates what
the applicant considers to be an achievement.

3. Interview Question: Describe the work
environment in which you will most
effectively be able to contribute.
Goal: The candidate’s response tells the
interviewer whether their work environment is
congruent with the candidate’s needs. The
answer helps the interviewer determine the
candidate’s cultural fit.

4. Interview Question: What kind of oversight
and interaction would your ideal boss
provide?
Goal: You want to know how self-directed
your candidate is. In a company that
emphasizes empowerment, for example, a
candidate that requires constant direction will
not fit. If you know that the boss who is the
hiring manager is a micromanager, the self-
driven candidate may not succeed. (What are
you doing about this boss’s management
style?)

5. •Interview Question: Tell me about a time
when you had to overcome a major obstacle
that stood in the way of you accomplishing a
goal or commitment.
Goal: You will obtain a clear picture of the
candidate's past performance. You obtain
information about his or her problem solving
style and you also learn about what the
candidate considers to be an obstacle. You may
also learn about his or her interaction style
with coworkers.

6. •Interview Question: What prompted you to
apply for this job? What interested you the
most about this position?
Goal: You want to know what the prospective
employee is most interested in related to your
position. The answer will tell you about what
motivates the individual and what is important
to the applicant.

7. Interview Question: Why are you leaving your
current employer? (If the applicant is
employed)
Goal: The applicant's response tells you about
his or her values, outlook, goals, and needs
from an employer. You can determine what
prompted the job search.

8. •Interview Question: What are the three most
important attributes or skills that you believe
you would bring to our company if we hired
you?
Goal: The candidate's answer tells you what
he or she considers most important in their
skill set. You also learn about how the
candidate views your open position.

9. Interview Question: What are the first three
things you would do on the job if you were
hired for this position?
Goal: You will gain an understanding of what
the applicant deems important, their
understanding of the requirements of your job,
and how the candidate approaches a new
situation.

10. Interview Question: How would your
coworkers at your current job describe your
interaction with them and your general
effectiveness in your work performance? How
would your coworkers describe you?
Goal: You want to understand how the
candidate thinks that his or her coworkers view
their interaction. You also want to assess how
coworkers like working with the candidate.
These questions give you an idea about the
candidate's assessment of his effectiveness in
his current job and in his relationship with
coworkers. Past practice can predict future
results.

11. Interview Question: How would your current
boss describe your work and contribution?
Goal: You want to understand how the
candidate perceives the support and opinion
of his current employer. This question tells you
about the candidate's interaction with his
current boss. It also informs you about how he
accepts criticism and feedback.

12. Interview Question: How do you believe that
your current skills will contribute to the
accomplishment of our company's goals and
mission as stated on our website or in
company literature?
Goal: Prospective employees have long been
asked to learn about the company to which
they are applying. In this Internet age, learning
about the company has never been easier. This
question tells you if the prospective employee
did learn about your company. Further, it tells
you if the candidate was thoughtful about his
or her potential "fit" in your company and
whether she will be able to contribute.

13. •Interview Question: How do you go about
continuing to develop your professional skills
and knowledge?
Goal: You want to hire employees who believe
in continuous development and improvement.
Listen carefully to whether the prospective
employee pursues his or her own professional
development or whether they depend on their
employer to provide the development
opportunities.