Social Questions for the Interviewing Candidate

Rockets34Life

Hello,

My co-worker is finally leaving on Monday (thank God) and I need to have someone who is completely the opposite of his personality.

I think I have enough technical questions, but for me, the interview with the candidate starts as soon as I shake their hand and walk them to the interview room. We have the actual interview, but it continues as I walk them out and it ends when they shake my hand.

I can hire a technical robot, but what makes them a great co-worker is how they interact with the team and if they're a go-getter. I will be their only team member along with my manager. I've suffered for a while with my current co-worker. I know it's going to be tough, but I need to find someone I can jell with.

What kind of social questions did you ask or if you were the candidate, what kind of questions did you receive?

scaredoftests

I have been asked 'how old I was' and 'how long do you plan on working' (which is not very legal) and do you think you will get along with younger workers (I could go on and on). Even had to take a personality test on one (don't give those, I implore you). Ask what are your hobbies? See if they are looking in your eyes or have a firm handshake. Also, if they ask good questions and don't appear nervous..

renacido

For my department we use behavioral interviewing. And we hire people based on their character and demonstrated potential to be great in their new role and a good fit for our team, based on past experience. We require that they possess a solid grasp of the fundamentals and a passion for the field, not necessarily that they've used all the specific tools we use.

For instance, if you know why you need IPS and understand how they work at a fundamental level, I can train you how to use FireEye NX. We look for candidates who have demonstrated that they possess things we cannot train them in, such as conscientiousness, enthusiasm, work ethic, integrity. You can't give them positive character traits or a love of the profession. But we CAN train them in tech skills where they have gaps. So far it's worked very well for us.

networker050184

Just try to have a conversation with them. Let them relax and open up a bit to see their personality. You don't need a set of canned questions. They'll likely just be trying to tell you what you want to hear anyway.

kurosaki00

Usually if one side shows humor, good intentions, the other side will follow.
If you're a good guy, like to be relaxed, good humor, it will come out in the interview. Just listen how he/she reacts.
Some people will stay silent, some will look away, some will laugh, some will try to throw a joke here and there and will try to make conversation.
We as human beings part of society and groups are well aware (majority) when an individual is forcing a conversation, feels awkward, not comfortable, relaxed, etc.

Bring a few from the team to the interview, see if they click well with him/her.

Mutata

To be honest, I would much prefer someone have a human conversation with me than one of these "behavior" type questionnaires. It's not too hard to know a question, with a predefined set of answers when someone asks it.

markulous

Propose the scenario that he's been shrunken down to the size of a nickel and is stuck in a blender, how does he get out?

I'd just try to have a casual conversation with him. Ask him about his hobbies, what he does in his spare time, etc.

Or you can ask questions about customer service too (IMO customer service isn't just the user, it's also your team, manager, vendor, etc). That kind of gives you an idea of what his personality is like. E.g. What would you say was the most difficult customer service related issue you came across and how did you resolve it?

renacido

I think some of you think behavioral interviewing is where you ask dumb hypothetical questions to check their reaction or test their ability to think on their feet or whatever. You're thinking of something else.

Behavioral interviewing focuses on past experience and accomplishments as a predictor of future performance.

Mutata

markulous wrote: »

Propose the scenario that he's been shrunken down to the size of a nickel and is stuck in a blender, how does he get out?

I'd just try to have a casual conversation with him. Ask him about his hobbies, what he does in his spare time, etc.

Or you can ask questions about customer service too (IMO customer service isn't just the user, it's also your team, manager, vendor, etc). That kind of gives you an idea of what his personality is like. E.g. What would you say was the most difficult customer service related issue you came across and how did you resolve it?

Because I'm going to openly describe a negative scenario in which I was involved?

Some examples of behavioral questions can be found here Behavioral interviewing | Career Services | Virginia Tech. Anyone with any experience interviewing or half a brain will have answers prepared for these types of questions that paint them in a positive light. Or be able to BS on the spot.

Sorry for the overly strong verbiage, it's not directed at you. Just the silly process

markulous

Mutata wrote: »

Because I'm going to openly describe a negative scenario in which I was involved?

Some examples of behavioral questions can be found here Behavioral interviewing | Career Services | Virginia Tech. Anyone with any experience interviewing or half a brain will have answers prepared for these types of questions that paint them in a positive light. Or be able to BS on the spot.

Sorry for the overly strong verbiage, it's not directed at you. Just the silly process

I get you. Answers can be faked or painted in a positive light, but anyone that's relying heavily on them is likely doing something wrong anyway. As long as the interviewer can judge someone's character decently, the questions themselves really aren't that important (at least the non-technical ones).

MrAgent

Ask what their thoughts are on the ability to have robot legs.

BradleyHU

scaredoftests wrote: »

I have been asked 'how old I was' and 'how long do you plan on working' (which is not very legal)

its not legal at all...

beads

No, not at all legal and can get you sued and seriously fined by any number of agencies both state and Federal.

I like to ask about what you do to take a break from technical learning etc. Assuming that your doing alot with your home lab, reading etc. Lead in with statement about your pet or companion animal (just because its an animal living with you its actually a pet). Personally I live with a dozen talking parrots who can say the most enlightening things. Its easy to lead in with small talk about such, how about yourself?

Remember most people LOVE to talk about themselves rather than listen to anything YOU have to say. Obviously, I am fascinating. Just listen to what I have to say about ME, MYSELF and I. Once you get the initial hang of that type of small talk people will tell you almost anything. Often times more than you need to know in an interview but you get the point.

- b/eads

kurosaki00

BradleyHU wrote: »

its not legal at all...

I'm pretty sure they are legal, just inappropriate. Although I have my doubts on the age one. I think openly asking your age may be illegal, but asking something like: "This position requires an individual that is able to do XXXXX thus needs to be 21 or older", do you meet that criteria?

iBrokeIT

I've actually shown up for an interview and the first they did was hand me a 100 question personality test. I made it to question 8 before I decided F this I'm out. If you do that or ask more than 2-3 brain teaser questions you got of the internet I'm going to think YOUR social and interview skills suck.

I want this to be a personal conversation about if this job is going to a good fit for the BOTH of us and not just some canned script you are running through because I am candidate 8 of 10 that you are interviewing because that is what your new hire process requires.

Try schedule some downtime with the candidate away from the interview room while you "wait for your manager" or give them a tour afterwards to get them to open up and let down their guard.

Sharing stuff about yourself and asking open ended questions tend to work the best. "Tell me about your home network" is usually a good one that will allow you to ask lots of follow up questions.