Interviewing for Great Employees: Part II

More sample interview questions:

1. What do you want to be doing five years from now?
   This should help you get a feel for the candidate's motivation and shows how interested she/he is in the position. If the candidate's goals fit within the organization, she/he is probably a strong candidate.

2. What experience do you have that will help you to succeed in this position?
   You want to hear about the advantages of their education and work experience, and their enthusiasm for new job situations.

3. Why should we hire you for this position?
   This is usually one of the last questions. It's where you want to hear the candidate go over their strong points and stress the benefits she/he has to offer. The candidate should be really interested in this job, not simply needing a job.

4. What would your last manager or supervisor say about you?
   This will let you know how candidates perceive their relationships with previous employers. It also helps determine how they handle difficult questions, and offers you another insight into their general work attitudes.

5. What is your expectation for this position?
   Find out how important salary is to the person you are interviewing. What other compensation are they interested in? e.g. medical benefits, bonuses, flextime, etc.

6. Do you have any questions for me?
   Every interviewee should be given the chance to ask you questions. A candidate that mumbles "no" and slinks out the door should not be high on your list of possibilities. Neither should the one who quickly asks about the chances of moving into another department.