How do you ask questions that get the information you need?

I think one of the most important thing is to "Be clear and concise" Framing your questions in a straightforward manner, avoid using jargon or overly complex language. Clear questions help the respondent understand what information you are seeking, reducing the chances of confusion. Second, Based on the respondent's initial answer, use follow-up questions to clarify and dig deeper into the topic. This technique can reveal more valuable insights and help you understand the respondent's perspective. And the third one is to organize your questions in a logical sequence to ensure a smooth and coherent interview. Please remember, asking effective questions is a skill that improves with practice and feedback.

Once you have your purpose, do extensive research around those main points. Read and analysis everything that has ever been put out there - whether it’s in written, audio or video format. When do you research to that level, you very quickly know what questions are always asked (avoid those) and can spot the gaps that no one ever addresses. Address those gaps. If you can’t find those gaps, then do this: read the material that’s already available online and at the end of every paragraph, ask yourself this question: Wait, but why? How? Do you know the answer? If not, ask. Another tip: If a particular quote jumps out at you, use that quote in your interview. Eg In your interview with Forbes, you said “XXX.” Explain why.

Before asking a question, be clear about the information you are seeking. Understand what you want to achieve with the answer, as this will help you formulate a more precise question.

Asking questions is an art. So the first step is knowing your purpose. What do you want to do? Why do you want to do that particular task? What will be the goal set out questions accordingly. E.g., If i want to hire a project manager. The following questions can be asked: 1. Can you share an example from your co-curricular activities where you had to lead a team to achieve a specific goal or complete a project? 2. How did you approach the task, and what were the key challenges you faced as a leader? 3. In your co-curricular involvement, have you ever been responsible for managing a budget or handling financial resources? 4. How did you ensure effective financial planning and resource allocation during that experience?

Make sure you’ve got the right information from the hiring manager. What are the non-negotiable on the job? What are the nice-to-haves? What will having this skillset in the team allow the team to do? Once you’ve made sure you have the right information, you can begin to build a question bank to ask candidates.

The best way to interview someone is by asking open ended questions. This way you draw out the experience you're looking for from them in their own words. When you ask open-ended questions, they're able to explain & elaborate on their own terms. You can either accept (or reject) that answer, or use more open-ended questions to dig in. This beats closed questions where the answer is just assumed every time.

Having open questions, like "Tell me the things you enjoy about what you do" These questions really break the ice when it comes to interviews but can really showcase the candidate and show their true passion, especially in Tech. Developers, this passion really comes out when talking about projects and the achievements they have done.

Open-ended questions encourage the respondent to provide detailed answers rather than simple "yes" or "no" responses. Starting questions with words like "how," "what," "why," or "tell me about" often lead to more informative answers.

Some open-ended questions that can be effective: - Tell me about your experience as it pertains to [x] - What was it about the role that made you want to apply? - How would you describe what you’re looking for in your next role?

Leading questions may influence the respondent's answer and introduce bias. Instead, aim for neutral questions that allow the person to express their views without being swayed.

Not all candidates have your level of English. As an immigrant, when I first started interviewing in English more than 10 years ago, I wanted so badly to make myself understood during the interview that I often struggled to speak without rumbling. I would ask questions and clarify any points to ensure I had the qualifications to perform the job. A few years later, I was in the interviewer's seat, and one of my goals was to make candidates feel welcome. I would ask clarifying questions without using fancy words or jargon. I would also tell candidates that it was okay for them to ask me questions. As a career strategist, I help my clients feel confident replying to questions and asking the ones that matter to them.

Using clarifying questions shows curiosity and keeps the tone of the interview conversational which will help keep the candidate communicating genuinely and authentically. Clarifying questions drill down and help uncover additional insight that can be essential for vetting a candidate. Here are a few starters for asking clarifying questions: Tell me more... How did you... What impact did... Who was involved...

I always liked using questions that create an issue that could come up on the job and asking how the interviewee would handle the issue. generally they were questions that had no right answer but I often got a feel for the personality. some were great but others got confrontational.

Some clarifying or confirming questions that can be effective: - Can you give me an example of that? - Tell me more about [x] - You mentioned [x]. What was that like? - You mentioned [x] and I must confess I don’t fully understand. Could you explain it for me?

A great question I like to ask and find very informative while interviewing is: Tell me about a time you've had to meet lots of deadlines: what were the tasks involved/how did you manage your workload with conflicting priorities?(Ask additional follow up questions to understand each project/task) - Allows you to understand and evaluate individuals thought process/how they prioritize their workload - Gives you a great insight into how they assess priorities and approach solutions Additional probing Qs could also be: - Why did you prioritize this as most important? - What techniques did you use to keep track of items that require your attention? - How successful was this approach? - Would/Have you changed your approach as a result of this?

Don't be afraid to ask clarifying questions at the end. If something doesn't feel right, that's your chance to get your response. Always have a few questions at the end of the interview. Interviewers expect candidates to ask questions. Once you are finished, thank the interviewer for the opportunity and reiterate your desire for the role. Hiring managers want people who want to work with them. Show enthusiasm, smile, and end the interview with a positive first impression. Follow up with a thank note within 24-48 hours.

Always have final questions, but I daresay that asking questions throughout the interview is a good practice. You can clarify a statement someone made. You can ask if something is a priority. You can ask how something affects the role you're applying to fill or where it fits in the overall goals. Open ended questions will get you more information than Yes/No questions. As long as you don't take over running the interview (it's not your time clock) or ask so many questions that the interviewers think you do not have the intelligence for the position, participate in the conversation rather than treat it as a quiz.

From a Biblical perspective: When Jesus Christ encountered people, he often asked them questions with the point of provoking their thinking, and in his case, their faith. When someone questions you or your purpose, I find this approach useful in questioning them, as it is an excellent way to expand not only their knowledge, but also your own. As a sidebar, when dealing with trolls, it's also a good way to flip the annoyance back on to them.

The best question to ask is one you don't know the answer to; approach it with genuine curiosity. Too often, our questions are asked to lead a person or team to the answer we desire. For example: What do you think about completing the project with the XYZ approach? Instead, ask: what would be the best approach to complete the project? Or, in an interview, our questions are phrased as looking for a positive outcome. For example: tell me about a time when you successfully led a team to a positive outcome. Instead, ask: tell me about a difficult project you have led in the past year (example of MBI interview question). Sit across from the person and ask yourself - what am I genuinely curious about and wait for the answer.

One of the key aspect to grab information from interview meet up require: Listen actively: While asking questions is important, active listening is equally essential. Pay attention to not only what is being said but also how it's being expressed, as this can provide valuable insights beyond just words. Remember, effective questioning involves creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing information openly and honestly while promoting meaningful conversation.

Asking good questions is not just about the words you use but also about the context and manner in which you ask them. Practice and experience will help you refine your questioning skills over time.

What if the interview is dominated by the interviewer who tells you everything about the role and does not guide you through the process? Here is where you can interject your examples and stories of accomplishments and challenges. For example – “I heard you say that this job requires someone to manage a direct staff of 4 and an indirect staff of 2.” In my prior role, I did work in this type of structure…” Find ways to keep this type of interview more conversational. You can ask questions and then also share your experience. You don’t want to leave feeling that you did great, and the interviewer feels like you are not a good fit when in fact this was a 1-sided conversation.