When interviewing a candidate, you’ve got a finite amount of time to strip away their layers and see what they’re really all about. One of the most critical things to uncover is their strengths and weaknesses to determine if they’d be a good fit for your company or may be a better fit elsewhere. Here are some questions to ask and what to listen for when talking with a candidate about their strengths and weaknesses.
Ask “Out-of-the-Box” Questions
If you stick to a standard script during an interview and ask expected questions, it’s difficult to gain an objective perspective of a candidate. For example, asking the classic, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” point blank may not give you the full picture because a candidate will probably have rehearsed an answer.
Instead, ask something like, “What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?” This will tell you two things – what a candidate defines as a challenge and how they respond to adversity.
Another question you could ask is, “What has been your biggest career success?” This reveals more about their accomplishments and what their capabilities are.
Some other potential questions to ask include:
- What type of work environment do you thrive in?
- What would your ideal company culture be like?
- What type of leadership style allows you to flourish?
- If you could take back a single career decision, what would it be?
Draw Your Own Conclusions
Because it’s easy for a candidate to talk up a strength or downplay a weakness, you can’t always accept every answer as being the complete truth. But what you can do is engage a candidate in conversion in a way that provides you with an all-encompassing vantage point. For instance, you could discuss their career up to this point and draw your own conclusions.
Is there a history of conflict with employers and co-workers? Do they demonstrate signs of having a strong work ethic? Do they respond well to challenges – or do they collapse under pressure?
Look for patterns that suggest what their strengths and weaknesses are, and look for any red flags.
By taking the right approach to interviewing, you can better gauge what candidates are really like and whether or not they would mesh with your business. Asking a few key questions about strengths and weaknesses and correctly engaging candidates should give you a pretty clear idea of what they’re all about and help you make the right choice when hiring.
For further interviewing advice or help with recruiting, please contact our experienced staffing team at Encadria Staffing Solutions today!