GreenSearch Hiring: A Short Course On How To Interview People

As a prospective employer, you have a perfect right to learn as much as you are legally entitled to know about a person prior to making a hiring decision. This is true regardless of the level of position you are seeking to fill.

Here are 10 questions you can use as is or modify to suit almost any interviewing situation. The answers to these questions will usually give you additional opportunities to ask further questions. Be inquisitive, ask "why" more frequently, and learn to listen.

1. Describe what you do in a typical day in your present (or past) job.

2. Describe some ways you could have improved your performance on the job.

3. What was the most (least) interesting part of your present (past) job?

4. (If presently working) Why are you seeking a job change?

5. Why did you leave your last job?

6. What type of criticism did your previous supervisor give you?

7. Tell me how you think your prior experience applies to the job we have.

8. Describe some ways you think you could improve yourself.

9. Describe the best person for whom you ever worked or ever worked for you.

10. In what way would you like our company to assist you if you join us?

These are legitimate job related questions which afford you, the interviewer, an opportunity to ask additional follow up questions based upon your own experience.

There are also some types of questions you should not ask applicants. Here are 10 examples of those types of questions. It is not an exhaustive list.

1. What nationality are you?

2. What does your spouse do for a living?

3. How will you get to work every day?

4. Are you engaged to be married?

5. Did you ever receive unemployment compensation after leaving a former job?

6. Do you have a bank account?

7. Is your roommate a male or female?

8. Have you ever been arrested?

9. When do you plan to retire?

10. What church are you a member of?

In general, avoid any questions relating to age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religious persuasion, marital status, political belief, physical well being or disabilities.

For more GreenSearch PeopleSmarts^® articles click here.

The above article was developed by GreenSearch which provides key management search, web-based job posting and management consulting services to the green industry and allied trades nationwide.

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