One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren't

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  1

  LWeller2

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  The attitude in this article is that you can take the easy path in ensuring you're hiring the right individual by asking one simple question then making a grand assumption about what the response reveals.
  
  The assumption about "readers" was far off in my experience. While not a big reader myself, I know many readers who are outgoing gabbers. So much for mixing apples with potatoes. Same with reading body language. I've found people upset because they made grand assumptions about what they believe someone's body language was telling them because they read it somewhere.

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  2

  Timpraetor

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  The Hobby/sparetime question has long been part of my interview strategy. It's also important to watch how animated the interviewee becomes when taking about their passions. As Bregman mentions, it's not a good indicator of a potential receptionist's drive, but for engineers and sales team members, you can get a really good picture of how they are with an exciting challenge.

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  3

  Lucerosp

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I think this country used to focus on skills, rather than motivation or professional growth, which that's the thrive for a lot of people to be successful in what they do. So next time you are trying to hire somebody, focus on their thrives and check if he is the indicated to LEARN the job and make it worth.

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  4

  berberanne

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I agree with the comment from LWellera. Asking that one question and making such a leap is assuming that people are very one dimensional. I too know avid readers who throw great parties, and love nothing more than to be in social gatherings discusiing what they've read among other things. The one question also assumes that because you are passionate about something - you will be successful in a job function that includes your passion. I bet there are many passionate market traders that have not been successful over the range of their careers or musicians.

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  5

  pterrazas

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  Having been both interviewee and interviewer over the course of my work experience, the "question" in this article has been asked. As with all good interview questions, the one proposed is "open-ended" and allows the responder a great deal of freedom to express their understanding of what is being asked and what they should reveal (and in what manner they should reveal their response). I have reworded a like question as "What are you passionate about, both in and outside the workplace? And why?".
  
  I think all would agree that there is no "right" way to determine the value that a prospective applicant could bring to the workplace. The very fact that there is still questions about the "right" questions should confirm that statement. But what is also overlooked in the interview process most often is to assess if the person being brought in can adapt previous work experience and expertise to the job position AND whether the organization has the proper mentor or training available to quickly and effectively position the hiree so that they may be productive in the most expedient period of time.
  
  P Terrazas, Seal Beach, CA

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  6

  vfrenkel

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  This question ranks up there with "if you were a car, what car would you be?" If you use behavior-based questions focused on job-related skills and abilities, and allow people to draw from previous work, and life, experience, you will be much more successful at finding the person with the best qualificiations, competencies and experiences for the job. If you aren't sure what you are looking for in the question, don't ask it. You may lose out on a very skilled candidate by asking "spare time" questions. What is the "correct answer" for you? And if their answer isn't "correct," why not? What is the "right" thing to do in one's spare time? Exercise, reading, spiritual development, parenting? Doesn't that question also possibly open the door to answers that could cross legally barred lines of questioning (remember discrimination???)

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  7

  jillrichards

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  It's a good question, but not the only one. It's not a bad litmus test to see if the person is passionate. Generally, passionate people make great employees. You may not be able to connect the dots between off-hours obsessions and potential work performance but if the person does anything with zeal outside of work, they are probably more likely to be passionate learners and appreciaters at work.

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  8

  Bouchart

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I would never answer (and have never answered) a direct interview question about what I do in my spare time. It is nobody's business but my own.

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  9

  chiliwilli

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  It's not an appropriate interview question and falls right in there with "are you married" and "do you have kids?" What I do when you are not paying me to do it is not your business and has nothing whatsoever to do with my skills for the job and/or performance on the job.

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  10

  Flournoy Phelps

  01/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  Candidates and interviewers alike must remember that an interview is not casual conversation. It has a specific context and point ? employment in a specific position with a specific company. Inquiry is simply the tool to discover a candidate?s fit, not to make a new friend. Good interviewers don?t ask questions that don?t relate directly to that issue of fit, and candidates should always expect that.
  
  Likewise smart job seekers should answer every question with exactly the same mind set. Nothing will come out of a good candidate?s mouth that doesn?t say, ?You see me in this position, profiting this company.? Whoever is doing the hiring should demand that from potential employees. If an applicant can?t give their full attention to the job for 30 minutes to an hour, then how will they focus on your bottom-line for 40 hours a week?
  
  Take-away ? any question is a good one as long as long as everyone expects both sides of the conversation to be loaded.

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  11

  widiantozhu@...

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I think this kind of question would've done very well in work environment where openness and casual informal approach is the the daily ritual. It's not about whether we should ask the question or not, but it's a matter of adaptation to a certain kind of office culture, which in this case will be the kind of office which operates in a small and tight family-like group. If family values blend with your daily working style, i think it's safe to say go ahead, ask about it. just my 5-cents

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  12

  leebeck33

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  Passions are great, but the primary enabler of Sullenberger's heroic actions is EXPERIENCE. The longer one is at a job - with continuing interest in doing it thx to passion - the less prone one is to respond to a crisis with a knee-jerk reaction. Experience also builds, for the lack of a better word, intuition, where one knows which of the multiple streams of inputs to rely on (and when) for decision making, not just responding to a few favored sales reps or the results found on a spreadsheet. I don't care that some research has dissed intuition - sometimes research has studied arrogance, not intuition - I've seen intuition in action many times in the best of people, and it works. The closer one works day in and day out to the trenches, the better one's intuition becomes.

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  13

  jagad5

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  My last question is always "what do you like to read?" which is related to this one. If the candidate says "who has time to read?" I know he/she can't manage their time. If they tell me "they don't like to read" I know their not going to be able to figure out how to do something they've never done before, hence, they can't learn. But if they start talking about the 1000 page biography of Andrew Jackson they just read, and the lessons they learned from King Andrew, and how they applied those lessons to their work life, I know I've got a winner.
  
  Like leebeck33, intuition is a valuable commodity. It is the ability to connect seemingly unrelated bits of information to arrive at a useful conclusion. The more one has read, either about one subject or many, the more highly developed that intuition is likely to be.

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  14

  lissets

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  I ask....

  "Tell me about the first job you ever had." If they start by saying "well, hopefully this one!" or even describing a college job, they're not the right candidate for ME.
  
  I'd rather hear about when they cut grass for the neighbors at age 10 or volunteered at a hospital at age 12. It shows their work ethic and that they're not prima-donnas that I'll have to contend with later. I've found this to be a much better litmus test than ever asking about their personal hobbies.
  
  I really don't care what my employees do outside of work (so long as it isn't illegal or will affect their work life). Do whatever you want, but I want to know that when you ARE here, you're a hard worker and I have 100% of your focus.

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  15

  Firestick

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  Hello everyone! I am new to the site and have just read for the first time a bnet article. i can tell this site will benefit me greatly in my future. I manage Realtors. The one question I ask is, "Do you spend quality time with your family?". I can always train and advise someone who cares for ones they are around and who has a good moral compass. I am a strong believer in separating your job from your home-life. We must seek those who have balance and a positive attitude. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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  16

  angelajohnson

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  Although this question might, on some small level, help you gain extra insight to qualify a candidate, I do not think the response should be used to disqualify candidates.
  
  I throw parties, am an avid reader, and spend a ton of time at the gym. So whichever response you happen to get from me in an interview may paint a one-sided picture of my personality. Also, I am currently looking into opportunities to volunteer with children but that in no way, shape or form means that I am qualified or desire to spend my working hours as a teacher. What I do away from work is often a direct opposite of what I do at work so that I can bring more balance to my life.
  
  My best advice on hiring the right person is to thoroughly check their references. If I may recommend one question for your hiring process it isn't even for the candidate. Ask their previous supervisor how they would rank the individual against the other members of the team. Follow that up with a simple "Why" and you'll get a lot of insight into someone's strengths and weaknesses!

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  17

  Shimmertravels

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I like the concept, but I like better the post above that nails down what you're looking for more clearly. It's not what do you do in your spare time, but what are you passionate about?!
  
  Another favorite question of mine: What's the biggest mistake you've made in your current job and what did you learn from it?" We all make (and hopefully learn from) mistakes - I will disqualify a candidate if their answer is "I haven't made a mistake."

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  18

  Marko109

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I disagree with all the responses that say the
  article is trying to provide an easy path to a
  difficult decision; it clearly states this
  question is AFTER one has narrowed the field to
  only the most qualified candidates.
  
  That said, it really is difficult to analyze
  such complex relationships as "he likes to
  write riddles, therefore he is good at
  anticipating problems, therefore he will excel
  as a system architect" on the fly. One would
  need to develop a psychological profile of
  every position and every potential leisure
  activity to determine whether writing riddles
  or solving them weights heavier against the
  desired skill set.
  
  As a general rule of thumb, it can't hurt to
  ask the question. It's a good ice breaker,
  shows an interest in the candidates personal
  interests, and it MAY help to differentiate the
  genius from the smart guy.

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  19

  machturtle

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I think CxO types already have enough trouble understanding average people.
  
  So much so that I myself would prefer they not 'interpret' these kinds of answers.
  
  Could it be that these people 'balance' their work life out with nearly opposite activities?
  
  Of course the really right answer for the CxO is something the CxO themselves do.
  
  ... Hiring after their own kind ...
  
  

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  20

  markedconn

  01/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I think that making an assumption about a person based on hobbies, and other non-work related activites is risky without asking about the level of involvement. I have a coworker who acts like she is an expert in everything. For example, she says she does cycling with much enthusiasm and tells people she rides. When I asked her about her rides, she says she rides on weekends occasionally and about 20 miles. That is not enough to be a cyclist (more like a weekend warrior), but she will tell people she is a cyclist. She is proud, but that attitude against real actions shows me she makes things bigger than they really are. This is true at work too. She acts like she is gods gift to her department, while other low key people actually do more important work.
  
  In regards to jagad5's response. Assuming that if a person says they do not like to read means the person can not learn is a bad assumption to make. The question is does the person understand what they read (and what do they read). I know people who love to read, but are not able to learn easily because what they are reading is too technical for them. I myself enjoy the act of reading, but I do not always enjoy reading because it takes away from other activities. If I spend all day working at the computer doing problem solving, I would rather do excercise, cooking, gardening, etc. than sitting down and reading a book. But I do have the ability to learn, since my current career as a programmer is mostly learning and applying what I have learned.
  
  Also, many people have the ability to adapt to their job roles, so to weed out people with a passion in something you do not understand fully is a mistake. Unless you are an expert in their hobby, you are not qualified to know if the person really is honest and correct in their responses.

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  21

  clarkm

  02/05/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

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  Neal Horwitz

  02/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I agree with jagad5's reply. As a headhunter, I deal with senior executives, and will sometimes ask what they've been reading lately. It is not so much to sharpen intuition, but to mitigate surprise and affront. The more one reads, whether good fiction,history or The Economist, the more likely the world will not outrage.Reading makes demands on the mind that no other interactive medium does, and cannot be equated with a more passive form of entertainment.
  
  As regards markedconn's comment, yes of course, some people have difficulty reading and prefer not to when they're home. At the rate things are going, some may say reading books may be relegated to a small group of eccentrics in the future. But I doubt it. Reading is essential to living, and the ability to read well, for pleasure and learning, is the essence of being a productive and thoughtful person.. It ain't from video games..

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  Neal Horwitz

  02/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

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  kkweeks

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  The interviews with which I've primarily been involved have been for federal civil service job openings. Most of these job seekers are military spouses who travel often and are not always able to show a consistent/stable employment history on their resume. These individuals follow their military spouses wherever and whenever. Therefore, the question I like to ask is how they've been able to adapt in their previous work experiences and to give an example of how those experiences have prepared them for the current job.

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  25

  peacrack

  03/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I agree 100% with jagad5; reading makes you sharper, more intuitive, and empathetic. I just left a company where I built a product for the legal industry; I was the SME in the deals but the VP of Sales didn't believe it was necessary-rather he concluded there was no market for the product. We failed because the sales people failed to learn how to sell a solution rather than a product. If you don't understand your prospect's world you can't win him over. If you don't read; you don't learn.
  
  Sales people need to become Subject Matter Experts-everything is selling-educating is closing!

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  26

  oakfield

  03/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I think that question can lead to lawsuits. If someone likes to attend prayer meetings and they mention it and you decide not to hire them they can say you didn't hire them because of their passion for religion. A question like that is too open to discrimination lawsuits.

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  27

  AmeliaTT

  04/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I've asked questions like the above for years, and usually learn a lot about a candidate by the answer he/she gives. What I am looking for are two things: First, are they balanced (well-rounded), and Second, are they curious. My experience is that the best candidates typically have both of those qualities, in addition to their relevant technical competence.

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  28

  eliza,garber

  05/13/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I wonder how the pilot would have answered this question in an actual interview setting. He may have assumed that the question was about all activities unrelated to flying and said "well I'm an avid reader of James Patterson novels and the wife and I take frequent rambling holidays on the coast."
  
  The interviewer would have been none the wiser.

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  29

  Ken Ferry

  05/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: One Interview Question You Should Be Asking But Probably Aren?t

  I'm not sure I would want someone I was interviewing for an commercial airline pilot position to show a lot of animated passion when talking about safety. I would feel much better with an candidate who remained calm and emotionally detached.
  
  I have the luxury of having an HR person present in my interviews to ask all of the behavioral science related questions in a legally acceptable way. So, I write all of my interview questions in the "Tell me about a time when you..." format (see "Interviewing, More Than a Gut Feeling," Richard S. Deems, Ph.D., Provant Media). This is the best way I've found to determine how a person might react/respond to the environment associated with the position for which they are being interviewed - by looking at how they did so in the past - similar to what vfrenkel describes in post #6 above.