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Employers - how many times have you read through the same set of interview questions? 

The time has come to really look at what you’re asking and consider some new lines of questioning. Why do we always ask people about their weaknesses? Or their plans for the next 5 years? These are so trite and outdated and reveal almost nothing about someone’s potential. 

What is much more important is establishing which candidates:

• Have done good quality research and are able to ask good questions based on that work 
• Can respond to questions that allow an understanding of their judgement 
• Are able to express their curiosity to grow
• Have some commercial awareness
• (and vitally these days) have an understanding of time management

These will take you further in terms of assessing suitability. 

Also, if we are too controlling, we don’t give the candidates time to assert some kind of control in conversations. We are looking for maturity and the ability to challenge questions, assertions, etc. 

Some Managers love the power interviews give them and use them as an excuse to put people under pressure. This may reveal nothing of someone’s talent and may easily put them off. Many employers forget that 50% of an interview is selling the candidate the job, if they look like they’re someone that can do it.

There is a tendency for many first interviews to be online these days, and we feel this is missing a great opportunity to actually see someone’s punctuality, their professional look if they have one, and how they deal with other people.

Want to hear the full conversation?

We explore this topic on The Reality of Business podcast in the episode How to Interview Better (Part 1): The Questions Every Employer Should Ask.