Interview Questions You Should Put in the Bin

Interview questions tell us a lot about the company and its mindset. Progressive companies don't ask lame questions because they know those questions are reflective of them and the company.

Questions tell me a few things about interviewers; How creative, modern or old-school they are and how much interest they have in the person. When these things are not aligned, I know I would struggle under such conditions.

I noticed that progressive and experienced interviewers moved away from these questions:

• Where do you see yourself in five years? (Nobody knows, ok.)
• Why did you leave or want to leave your current job? (Irrelevant to the job.)
• You have a varied CV. Why haven't you managed to stick with something? (This question already puts the candidate's work experience in a negative context; no matter what they say, it will remain a red flag.)
• Why the career break? (This is also likely to be a red flag for the employer, which is wrong. People take breaks for many reasons, this information has no relevance to the job the candidate is applying for.)
• Tell me a little bit about yourself. (This confuses people. Be specific about what you want to know.)
• What was the biggest mistake you ever made? (Nobody will tell you.)
• Why should I hire you? (That is not the way to inquire about skills.)
• Why do you want to work here? (People don't really care where they work, so what exactly do you want to hear from this question?)
• What would your previous manager say about you? (It depends on the relationship, not on the work. It also depends on who you ask.)
• Are you interviewing with other companies? (The answer will always be yes.)
• Why do you want to move here, and do you have friends or family living here? (People move where jobs are, and just because there are no family or friends with them, it doesn't mean they won't stay.)

All of these questions are biased and irrelevant to the job the person is applying for. Ask questions that are relevant to the job and don't let yourself be blinded by the biases that are behind these questions.

Remember, candidates measure the temperature very quickly when they arrive for an interview. They take note of everything:

• Are people smiling and calm?
• The atmosphere.
• Were you expecting them? Did you prepare for the interview?
• Are they offered at least a glass of water? I went to see a hospitality company where I wasn't even offered a glass of water. WOW.
• The questions you ask and how well you listen.
• Leadership style.

So please don't ruin your chances with the candidate because they will end up firing you as a potential employer.

Do you know what to ask instead? I will write about it tomorrow.