Based on the 99% article, found here
The 99% recently polled Twitter followers on their favorite interview questions. The reasoning is sound-the average American switches jobs every 4 years and it is almost always more expensive to hire and train a new employee only to discover they are not what you are looking for than to take the time to search for the correct candidate. Coming from Apple this was especially true. The learning curve for a part-time specialist was about 6 months to go from completely new to fully proficient.
I was lucky enough to work with a boss who was insistent on hiring the best when we found them and no body when we didn't. This takes time and is impossible to uphold when you go through hiring spurts. Consequently we were always in the process of very actively interviewing and hiring. In addition to working with some outstanding people this also led me to really hone my interviewing chops, over the course of hundreds of interviews.
For me, interviewing is information gathering. Each question asked should be moving you towards your goal of understanding why the interviewee you are working with would be a good fit for your organization. Even in situations where you will have multiple interviews, or extended interviews, the time you have for this assessment is precious little compared to the amount of time you may potentially be working with that employee. In my opinion, finding out if you 'like' them is far less important then finding out why you 'like' them.
Below are The 99%'s 20 selected questions and my commentaries on each one. Many I agree with and encourage, others I offer what I consider to be more effective replacement questions, and some still I disagree with.
1. What is a common misperception about you? (There's often a seed of truth in the answer.)
- @aarondignan
I feel the presumed value from this question is based on an assumption that what the interviewee will represent as misperception the interviewer would believe is, to some degree, accurate. Though not the intention, I feel this question is a little duplicitous. If I were to use this question, I would phrase it as: "Can you give me an example of a misconception about people have about you? Why do you believe you might be perceived this way?"
2. What do you do on your days off?
- @nicolemwms
I like this question. I enjoy using this style of questioning to probe for evidence of certain competencies (action oriented, goal setting, etc) in a non-work setting, usually indicating a stronger presence.
3. Whose website would you want to design or redesign?
- @hugeinc (jessica bauer-greene)
I asked a similar question regarding retail ('What company, aside from Apple, do you believe to have outstanding customer service?'). I like to see if they can stay positive and focus on the positive attributes of the company rather than the weaknesses of competition or the company itself.
4. What would your previous boss say is your greatest weakness / strength?
- @brannonmc
I preface this question with 'Have you had previous employers give you feedback on your strengths/opportunities?' This way you can reduce the likelihood of a bullshit answer. I can tell you exactly what my previous employer said were my greatest s/o, and they are different from my own assessment.
5. Are there any accounts or types of work you would not want to do?
- @tfollowell
This may work for certain industries, but I do not see benefit of this question from my field. Every job has their worst parts, this doesn't mean we should feel entitled not to do them.
6. What are you reading?
- @kbordwell, @oktlouisa, @rumblestrut
I like this question, similar in approach to Question 2, as well. But for this to give truly worthwhile information about the interviewee I would ensure there is a follow up. I might ask for them to explain a character they empathize with and why, or what they find interesting about the topic they are reading.
7. What are your dislikes/pet peeves/frustrations? (Reveals more than asking about their likes.)
- @reneefishman
I do not believe this reveals more than asking about their likes. I believe this reveals about as much information, which is little, and keeps the interview negative. I no longer ask this question.
8. Who do you follow on Twitter, and why?
- @samwilson1
I find this specific question arrogant. However, I do like the question, 'Who do you find to be a fascinating personality, and why? to be enlightening.
9. What would you do in a panicky situation (e.g. the printer calls at 5:59pm to say a file is corrupted, and your boss already left)?
- @fitforpaper
This is a must have question for any job on a team that expects any sort of personal initiative. I have asked a question like this in almost every interview.
10. What's your dream job?
- @toflee
I think this question is interesting, and I sometimes use it as an opener to get acquainted or a closer if I've already made up my mind but still have time. To me, the key here is that the answer should be value oriented, rather than specific profession. Instead of hearing 'teacher' I like to hear 'a job where I can teach people'.
11. How many pianos are there in New York? (A variation on this classic question 'how many piano tuners are in new york')
- @CalinBalauru
The goal of this question is to hear how the interviewee reasons out an unknown or ambiguous situation. The gained information is very interested but be aware that sometimes it needs a bit of explaining. It helps no one if you get a one word answer (Uhh...1,000?)
12. If your boss offered your choice of reward for a job well done, what would you pick?
- @spence7zero
Similar to Question 10, how much true information about an interviewee can one gain from fantasy? And fantasy drenched in reality at that ('a million dollars' doesn't make much sense as an answer). Instead I like, and recommend, to get to the meat of the question and point-blank ask, 'what did your last job provide you that you valued most?'
13. What sort of education are you looking for in your next job?
- @scottbelsky
I would expect nothing less from Scott Belsky. This question provides critical information if you are looking to hire the best of the best. This allows the interviewer to get a glimpse at the person in the organization, not just the employee in the organization. With this question the interviewer gets insight into their critical thinking, expectations of employer, hopes and aspirations. I frequently used this as a question in final interviews.
14. How does this position relate to what you really want to be doing?
- @POVevolving
Wow, this question is great. I used a similar variant when meeting with employees during our regular development exchanges, but I never thought bringing it into the interview. I love it.
15. What was your first ever job, and how did you get it?
- @MShahab
As an icebreaker, I like it, but it will not be giving me specific information. On the other hand, the interviewee may provide extra information that I would be very interested in and allow me to follow up on it.
16. Pepsi or Coke? (Shows me how the interviewee responds to the unexpected.)
- @JaseMiller
I am not impressed with these types of questions. This type of 'unexpected' is in no way an accurate reflection of an 'unexpected' in the work environment. Furthermore it leads the interviewer to a dead end afterwards. This is a question to rattle the interviewee, as opposed to ascertaining information that can help you make a decision about one's life. If you like using this question, I would encourage you to try a question similar along the lines of Question 11.
17. If you weren't getting paid for what you do, would you still be doing it?
- @DeElgena
'No, I'd get another job' This is what I always think when I hear this question. In my interviews I always give the interviewee an opportunity to ask me questions and I've been asked more than once. I believe this question is trying to discover what (if any) overlap in values exists between the job and the individual. As an alternative to this, I like asking 'What aspects of your job do you find yourself carrying over into your personal life?' or 'What similarities do you see between your work and personal life?'
18. What do you know about us?
- @pylondesigninc
This is a good intro question. I try not to judge people too much based on this question but do like knowing what our common foundation is.
19. Why are manhole covers round? (This comes from an old Microsoft interview question.)
- @Halaylah, @johnnyfyve
I'm not the biggest fan of questions with definitive answers, unless it is industry related technical knowledge. I know this answer only because I know the question. What does my correct answer tell the interviewer? That I owned 'Mindtrap' when I was 8?
20. When is it okay to break the rules?
- @coopbranding
In an effort to reduce some corny answers to this question, I prefer 'Give me an example of a time in which you broke the rules? Why do you believe this was the correct thing to do?'
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