Interview: How to Judge a book by its cover?

In recent times, few of my colleagues and friends found it really difficult to hire an experienced candidate. Candidates are providing false information in the interview process/ resumes and whatever said and written is not 100% correct. After joining the organization, candidates are exposed and the bubble bursts.  

It is very difficult for the Interviewer to judge a candidate in limited time frame. As an Interviewer sometimes we face the dilemma whether the person what he/she is telling about his/her experience and work is fake or real.

So, how do you judge a candidate and make sure that the answers are genuine? Here’s the list of competency based questions one can ask in an interview for Business Analysts. Again these are not 100% bulletproof but as an Interviewer you will get enough inputs about the candidates you are hiring.

1.      Ask them to rate themselves based on core competences i.e. Innovation, Analytical Thinking, Planning, communication etc. If they rate themselves high/low ask the reason.    

2.      How Core Competences are helpful in your professional and personal life? Give example.

3.      How do you present your ideas/analysis to your colleagues or seniors? What if they reject it?

4.      How do you explain the importance of Planning/analysis to your sub-ordinates?

5.      Did you face any situation where creativity or innovation was required? What suggestion were provided and what was the impact/results?

6.      Have you faced the failure in projects? What were the learnings? Do you have any regrets?

7.      How open are you about the ideas/suggestions provided by sub-ordinates? Give example

8.      How communication helps in professional and personal life?

9.      Give example of successful communication and communication failure.

10.  How would you react if your seniors/juniors are not communicating properly?

11.  How would you react if your seniors has made a mistake?

12.  How do you plan a day in your office?

13.  How do you contribute in planning?

14.  Example of bad planning resulting in failure in the projects you have worked upon.

• What you have done differently to avoid failure?

15.  What would you do if planning is not possible for SOS work?

We can ask these types of questions based on competencies for Business Analysts in addition to technical questions specific to the role he/she is appearing (It can be asked to any candidates as per requirement and roles).

It is possible to Judge a Book by its cover (know the candidates) if you ask these questions. One cannot answer these questions if he/she has not experienced it in real/professional life.

Let me know if any other questions can be added in the list and asked before buying a book (Hiring the candidateJ).

Cheers!!!