Top interview questions for interviewers

As an interviewer, your role is pivotal in identifying the best talent for your organisation. To help you conduct successful interviews and make informed hiring decisions, we’ve compiled a valuable resource of top interview questions for interviewers. Whether you’re an experienced hiring manager or new to the interviewing process, this document will provide you with a diverse range of insightful questions to assess candidates effectively.

Behavioural Questions:

You can use behavioural questions to assess a candidate’s past behaviour and gauge their potential for future success. Look for specific examples, the actions they took and the results they achieved.

• Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult situation at work. How did you resolve it?

• Share an example of a project where you faced a significant challenge. How did you overcome it and what did you learn from the experience?

• Describe a situation where you had to work collaboratively with a team to achieve a common goal. What was your role and what were the outcomes?

Situational Questions:

Situational questions assess a candidate’s ability to think critically, problem-solve and demonstrate their decision-making skills. Look for logical and thoughtful responses that align with your organisation’s values.

• How would you handle a situation where a colleague consistently underperforms or doesn’t contribute and it impacts your work?

• Imagine you’re managing a project with competing deadlines. How would you prioritise tasks and ensure timely completion?

• If you were faced with a sudden change in project requirements and timelines, how would you manage the additional workload?

Culture-Fit Questions:

Assessing cultural fit is crucial for long-term employee satisfaction and engagement and often leads to longer employee tenure. Look for candidates who align with your organisation’s values, possess a growth mindset and demonstrate the ability to adapt to diverse work environments.

• What interests you most about our company and what specifically drew you to applying for this position?

• Describe your preferred work environment and the type of team dynamics you thrive in.

• Share an example of a time when you had to adapt to a new work culture. How did you navigate the transition and contribute to the team’s success?

Skill-Based Questions:

Ensuring the candidate has the right skills for the role is critical. These questions aim to uncover whether the individuals’ skillsets match what you’re looking for. The questions should focus on current skills as well as areas the individual would like to develop-this can include both hard and soft skills.

• Which of your skills do you think will be relevant for this role?

• What is one hard or soft skill you would most like to develop and why?

• What do you think are the most relevant skills for this role?