10+ useless interview questions... and what you should ask instead

Interview prep guides are full of recommended 'tough' questions, but a lot of them are a complete waste of time. Here's a list of questions to avoid and some better ways to elicit useful information.

Conducting an effective interview is one of the best opportunities you have to make your job easier. After all, if the candidates you hire aren't sufficiently trained or properly motivated, it'll end up meaning more work for you. But there's an art to asking truly useful questions, and getting the hang of it takes practice and experience. A good place to start is to learn what NOT to ask, such as:

• Can you work under pressure?--What are employers thinking when they ask this? A candidate's not going to say Well, actually, I prefer to work at my own pace, unaffected by other department's needs, crises, or objectives.


• What's the most negative thing you've heard about our company?--If you're with a smaller firm, you're going to come across as self-indulgent and arrogant. Honest candidates will think What makes you assume anyone's even heard of your company, much less thought something negative of it?


• If you had my job, what would you do differently?--It's ludicrous to expect candidates to understand the intricacies of your position if they haven't had an opportunity to immerse themselves in your corporate culture, work within your budget constraints, and manage the dynamic relationships of your staff.

When you steer clear of such time-wasters, you can focus on asking professional, appropriate questions will help ensure you hire the most qualified individual.

This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.