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Unexpected Interview Questions To Help Identify Top Talent

After carefully reviewing resumes and cover letters, a small group of job candidates has been assembled. The interviews have been scheduled. 

Your potential new employees are preparing as well, practicing their answers to interview questions they’ve been asked before, trying to make it sound fresh and original and well-thought-out. 

Why not shake things up a bit? After asking about education, work experience and “where do you see yourself in 10 years,” try something different? 

Here are a few unexpected questions to help a better sense of each job candidate and identify the best new hire.  

• When you’ve made a mistake at work, what happened? How did you fix it? What did you learn? This will push people out of their comfort zones but will allow those who are honest to detail a challenge and explain how they learned from and adapted to the situation. Those who can think quickly on their feet will be able to answer this truthfully and with detail; be wary of anyone who is unwilling to admit imperfection. 
• What is your biggest pet peeve? You’re bound to get some predictable or easy answers here, but you might also get some insightful responses. This question will shed light on who the candidate is, not just how they work. Do they identify something that can’t be controlled, like the behavior of others? It will also provide some idea of how this person identifies and handles stress and what they do to resolve it. 
• How would your current manager describe you? This one could get a little sensitive, as some candidates will be looking to find a new job to get away from what they feel is a bad manager. But listen carefully to the answer, any criticisms they might offer in addition to any praise they’d suggest. 
• What makes you happy or excited? The impulse might be to talk about something work-related. That’s to be expected. But ask a follow-up, if they do, and redirect to ask them about their non-work life. Are they passionate about music? Do they have a creative hobby? If they do focus on work, it can reveal the type of tasks they most enjoy, which can provide insight into whether they’d be a good fit for the position. 
• What external development in the industry might be disruptive for this company and how would you address it? This is a great way to read their knowledge of the industry and your company’s role in it. It also indicates their ability to think creatively and look ahead, anticipate challenges and their preparedness to handle them. 
• How would you describe yourself in a single word? This question is key for several reasons: Some candidates will have one strong word immediately ready, which can indicate confidence and sense of self that could be ideal for your company. Others might search for what they think you want to hear. Still, others might take a long time to ponder and even not quite hit the mark. 
• What’s one important thing to know about you that isn’t on your resume? This is a very open-ended question, giving a candidate the opportunity to tell you something funny, or light-hearted, or it’s a chance to provide one more fact about their work experience. 

These are just a few examples of interview questions you might want to ask a possible candidate. Give them something unexpected and see how they respond. Their reaction might tell you more than all the rehearsed and pre-planned questions ever could. 

How can Toronto’s top recruiting firm help you?

When you are looking for your next executive or entry-level accountant, IFG Global can help narrow the field and keep your company ahead of the curve.