If you’re a hiring manager, recruiter, or candidate, you know how important interviews are in the job search process. Interviews allow employers to assess a candidate’s skills, experience, and fit for the job. On the other hand, candidates can showcase their strengths and demonstrate why they’re the best fit for the role.
In this article, we’ve compiled 35 of the best interview questions to ask candidates in 2023. We’ve also included tips on how to spot great answers and evaluate candidates effectively.
General Interview Questions
Can you tell me about yourself?
This question is often used as an icebreaker, but it’s also a great way to assess a candidate’s communication skills and personality. Look for candidates who can give a concise and compelling overview of their experience, skills, and achievements.
Why are you interested in this position?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s motivation and alignment with the role and company. Look for candidates who have done their research on the company and can articulate how their skills and experience make them a good fit.
What are your greatest strengths?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s self-awareness and confidence. Look for candidates who can provide specific examples of how their strengths have contributed to their past success.
What are your greatest weaknesses?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s self-awareness and willingness to improve. Look for candidates who can provide a genuine weakness and demonstrate how they’ve worked to overcome it.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s ability to cope with challenges and deadlines. Look for candidates who have a specific and effective coping mechanism, such as exercise or time management techniques.
Can you describe a difficult situation you faced and how you overcame it?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s problem-solving and resilience skills. Look for candidates who can provide a clear and detailed example of a challenging situation and demonstrate how they approached and solved the problem.
What are your salary expectations?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s expectations and budget. Look for candidates who have done their research on the industry and company and can provide a realistic and competitive salary range.
Job-Specific Interview Questions
What experience do you have in this field?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s relevant experience and skills. Look for candidates who can provide specific examples of their experience and how it relates to the job requirements.
What are your technical skills and experience?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s technical proficiency and expertise. Look for candidates who can provide specific examples of their technical skills and experience and how they can apply them to the job.
How do you prioritize and manage your workload?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s time management and organization skills. Look for candidates who have a clear and effective method for prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines.
How do you approach teamwork and collaboration?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s teamwork and communication skills. Look for candidates who can provide examples of successful team projects and demonstrate how they contributed to the team’s success.
How do you keep up with industry trends and developments?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s interest and passion for the field. Look for candidates who can provide specific examples of how they stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments and trends.
Behavioral Interview Questions
Can you describe a time when you had to adapt to change?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s adaptability and flexibility. Look for candidates who can provide a specific example of a change they faced and how they adapted to it successfully.
How do you handle conflicts or disagreements with coworkers?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s conflict resolution skills and professionalism. Look for candidates who can provide a specific example of a conflict they faced and how they resolved it in a calm and respectful manner.
Can you describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s decision-making skills and problem-solving abilities. Look for candidates who can provide a specific example of a difficult decision they faced and how they made the decision based on the available information.
How do you handle criticism or feedback?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s openness to feedback and willingness to learn. Look for candidates who can provide a specific example of receiving feedback and how they used it to improve their work.
Can you describe a time when you had to take initiative or lead a project?
This question helps you assess a candidate’s leadership and initiative skills. Look for candidates who can provide a specific example of taking initiative or leading a project and how they achieved success.
How To Spot Great Answers
When evaluating a candidate’s answers, look for the following:
Specificity
Great answers should provide specific examples, details, and results.
Relevance
Great answers should directly relate to the job requirements and show how the candidate’s skills and experience align with the position.
Clarity
Great answers should be clear and easy to understand, without unnecessary jargon or technical terms.
Creativity
Great answers should show creativity and innovative thinking, especially when dealing with challenging situations.
Enthusiasm
Great answers should show enthusiasm and passion for the job and the company.
Conclusion
Interviews are a crucial step in the hiring process, and asking the right questions can help you assess a candidate’s skills, experience, and fit for the job. By using these 35 best interview questions and tips for evaluating answers, you can make informed and effective hiring decisions in 2023.
FAQs
What is the STAR method for answering behavioral interview questions?
The STAR method is a framework for answering behavioral interview questions that stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It helps candidates provide specific and detailed examples of their skills and experience.
How should I prepare for an interview?
Preparing for an interview involves researching the company and the job, practicing common interview questions, and dressing professionally.
What should I bring to an interview?
You should bring copies of your resume, a list of references, a notepad and pen, and any relevant work samples or portfolios.
How long should an interview last?
An interview can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the position and the number of interviewers.
What should I do after an interview?
After an interview, you should send a thank-you email or note, follow up on any next steps or timelines, and continue your job search until you receive an offer.
