Top 5 insightful interview questions

1. Describe a work situation where you were at your happiest
 
Nobody is going to admit being a poor team player in an interview but this question will reveal whether they prefer to work independently, in a team or as a manager. Notice what role they have in the scenario they describe. 

2. Why are you choosing to do what you’re doing?
 
This question gives you an insight in to whether a candidate is at ‘cause or effect’ ie. Do they make their life happen or are they a victim to it? Small businesses want to recruit people who take responsibility and are proactive rather than people who make excuses. Notice whether they talk about opportunities and possibilities or obligation and duty? 


3. What do you want in a job?
 
Again, listen out for whether they’re using positive or negative language ie are they telling you what they want or what they want to avoid? People who are positively motivated towards goals tend to produce more consistent results. For example, someone motivated by achievement will be more consistent than someone who is motivated by not wanting to get fired! 

4. What is the relationship between what you’re doing this year in your career and last year?
 
The responses you get to this will vary in terms of whether they highlight things that are the same or different. People who only talk about the differences between this year and last year are likely to be more creative but probably won’t stay in the job so long. Conversely those who talk about everything that’s the same will be less innovative – they won’t see the point in changing things unless they’re broken. A mixture is probably ideal. 


5. What was your biggest mistake and how did you handle it?
 
You don't want people on your team who points fingers at other people when something goes wrong. If they can't take personal responsibility it will undermine your team. 

So, this is one of those good interview questions that can be very revealing. What you really want to hear is someone being honest about their mistakes but also sharing what they learned from the experience.