65 Top Interview Questions to Ask Candidates in 2023

When interviewing job candidates, employers should ask a variety of questions to determine if they are a good fit for the position.

It’s important to define the job requirements and the type of employee you are looking for, including both skills and behavioral qualities.
In-person interviews provide an opportunity to gain insight into a candidate’s personal abilities, background, and motivational skills that aren’t apparent from their resume.

Hiring the right employees is critical to a company’s success, and therefore effective interview techniques are essential.
Beside the frequently asked questions, there are two types of job interview questions –

1. Competency-based questions that focus on testing specific skills.
2. Behavioral questions that explore how a candidate acted in past employment situations.

By evaluating candidates’ response to these questions during the interview process, employers can gain a clear picture of the candidate’s qualities.

To help employers prepare for interviews, this article provides:

1. The frequently asked questions.
2. Sample questions for both competency-based and behavioral interviews.

Sample Frequently Asked Interview Questions for Employers

When interviewing candidates, it’s important to ask the right questions to get a better understanding of their qualifications and suitability for the position.

Here are some suggested questions, categorized according to different aspects:

A.) Introduction Questions

1. Can you tell me about yourself?
2. What is your previous work experience?
3. What is your current position, and what does it involve?
4. What were your key responsibilities in your previous job?
5. Can you describe some projects you have worked on in your past roles?
6. How has your education/training prepared you for this job?

 

B.) Tough and Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do you think you’re the best fit for this job?
2. What interests you about this position and our company?
3. Why did you leave your previous job, or why were you fired?
4. What value can you bring to our company?
5. How do you see yourself fitting in with our team?

 

C.) Career Questions

1. What inspired you to choose this career path?
2. What are your long-term career goals?
3. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?
4. What are your short-term career objectives?
5. Are there any other career paths that you would consider?
6. Can you tell us about any courses, training programs or certifications that you have completed?
7. Do you enjoy your work?

 

D.) General Questions

1. What do you know about our company?
2. When would you be available to start working?
3. What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
4. What are your likes and dislikes?
5. Do you have any questions for us?

 

E.) Salary Questions

1. What are your salary expectations for this role?
2. What is your current salary?
3. What financial expectations do you have for your career?
4. Are you satisfied with your current salary?
5. What salary range are you looking for?

Conducting Effective Interviews:
Behavioral Questions and Competency Based Questions

During a job interview, it’s important to ask questions that will help you assess a candidate’s skills and qualifications.
Two common types of interview techniques are behavioral interviewing and competency interviewing.

Here are some tips and examples for each:

Behavioral Interviewing Techniques

Behavioral questions are used to evaluate a candidate’s strengths based on their past behavior. The STAR approach is a great method for conducting behavioral interviews, which includes:

1. Situation: Ask the candidate to describe a specific situation or task.
2. Actions taken: Have the candidate explain why they chose a particular action and the process they used.
3. Results: Ask the candidate to describe the outcome and what they learned from the situation.

Examples of behavioral questions include:

1. Describe a situation that you found stressful and how you dealt with it.
2. Have you managed or motivated others? Can you tell us about a success story?
3. Explain a difficulty you had with a coworker and how you handled it.
4. Have you ever been in a high-pressure situation at work? How did you handle it?
5. Describe a time when you went above and beyond your job responsibilities to achieve a goal for the company.
6. What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?

 

Competency Job Interview Techniques

Competency-based interviewing involves evaluating a candidate’s functional skills, self-management skills, and content skills.

Here are some examples of questions for each category:

1. Functional Skills:

1. How do you manage and organize your workload?
2. Can you describe a time when you had to communicate effectively with a team?
3. Tell us about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer.

 

2. Self-Management Skills:

1. How do you handle multiple tasks at once?
2. Are you comfortable learning new things on your own?
3. Can you give an example of a time when you took the initiative to improve a process or task?

 

3. Content Skills:

1. What experience do you have in this field?
2. What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this role?
3. What do you think is the most important skill needed for this job?

Competency-Based Interview Questions by Role:

1. Leadership:

1. Give an example of a time when you took a risk and explain why you took that risk.
2. What steps do you take to achieve your goals?
3. Explain the difference between a leader and a manager.

2. Communication:

1. Describe a situation where you had to persuade others to support your idea or plan.
2. Provide an example of how you would explain a complex technical issue.
3. How do you keep a discussion positive and productive?

3. Customer Service:

1. How do you balance the customer’s interests and the company’s interests?
2. Can you describe a time when you successfully handled a customer complaint?
3. Have you ever had to turn down a customer’s request? Why?

4. Sales:

1. What motivates you in marketing and sales?
2. Give an example of how you promote a specific product.
3. Can you describe a time when you exceeded your sales targets?

5. Organizational:

1. How do you prioritize tasks for a project?
2. Explain the steps you take to organize a new project.
3. Can you describe a time when you had to manage a difficult project?