I am not sure who stressed more about interview questions: the job applicant or the boss. I don't blame either. It is easy to worry, not know which questions to ask, and ultimately to second guess your question choices. There is no need to worry. I have compiled a list of interview questions that run from the basic questions to touch questions that help narrow in on who has the potential to be high performers.
Before we get into the list, make sure to have a diverse selection of questions. You want some basic questions, some questions to gauge the applicant's competence, and some behavioral questions to assess how the candidate would perform at the specific company. It is also a good idea to add a few situational questions.
The Best Interview Questions
What critical feedback do you most often receive?
What have been your most positive and negative management experiences?
Why are you interested in this position?
What interests you about this position?
What are your goals for the future?
Can you tell me about a difficult work situation and how you overcame it?
What did you like most and least about your last position?
What does customer service mean to you?
How would your current coworkers describe you?
What would others say is your greatest strength?
Tell me about a time you used your knowledge of the organization to get an idea approved.
What have you done in your previous positions at other companies that made a significant difference to the business and for which you believe you will be remembered?
Recall an occasion when you had to explain your department's losses.
You're new to an organization. What is one of the first things you do to learn how you can contribute to the organization's mission?
How have you participated in planning processes?
Describe a time you used your communications skills to negotiate with an angry person.
Have you ever given a presentation to a group? How did you prepare for it? What would you do differently?
Two members of a team do great work, but they do not work well together. What are some of the key ways to get them to work together better?
How well do you communicate with others? What communication techniques do you use?
Give an example of a time when you had to change project priorities quickly. How did you do it?
Recount a time when you accommodated someone beyond your comfort level, though you didn't have to.
Suppose you are in a situation in which deadlines and priorities change frequently and rapidly. How would you handle it?
Have you ever been caught unaware by a problem or obstacle that you had not foreseen? What happened?
Tell me about a work "nightmare" you were involved in. How did you approach the situation, and what was the outcome?
You are angry about an unfair decision. How do you react?
What do you do when others resist or reject your ideas or actions?
Give a specific example of a decision you made that was not effective. Why do you think it was not effective, and what did you do when this realization was made?
You have a critical decision to make for your department, and all alternatives will likely be unpopular with your staff. What input do you gather before deciding? What factors do you take into consideration?
What methods do you use to make decisions? When do you find it most challenging to make a decision?
Do you have any questions for me?