Improving the Employment Interview

The worst questions are those that can be answered with yes or no. The best are those that encourage the interviewee to talk. These questions are worth considering:

• When did you last need to energize a direct report? How did you do it?
• Have you ever had trouble keeping a commitment? How did you handle this?
• What was the toughest decision you had to make in the last year? What did you decide, and why?
• Tell me about the worst customer you dealt with in the last several years? How did you handle this individual?
• Have you ever worked with someone you dislike? How did you cope with this?
• When did you last set aside your own priorities for the good of the team? Describe the details?