Hiring Employees: Ask Great Interview Questions

There are multiple types of questions you can ask in an interview—however, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should ask them. Here’s a quick overview of what questions will get you the answers you need.

Open-ended. This type of question usually starts with “what,” “how,” “why,” “tell me about” or “give me an example,” and is effective because it prompts the candidate to give a detailed response. Good examples of open-ended questions include:

• “Tell me about a time when you had to persuade your boss to adopt your point of view.”
• “What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?”
• “What has been your greatest error in judgment?
• “What did you learn from this mistake?”
• “What was the most complex project you ever handled and how did you accomplish it?”

Close-ended. This type of question should be limited, as it can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” response. While sometimes useful and even necessary, close-ended questions generally give limited insight into a candidate’s abilities.

Leading. This type of question supplies the expected response and is relatively unproductive. For example, resist asking “Are you a team player? This salon values team-oriented employees.” This gives the candidate the expected response and is of little value. A better question is “Do you prefer to work independently or as part of a team?”

Self-evaluation. This type of question can give helpful character insight when candidates are required to provide specific examples of how they have solved past problems. A good example is, “Tell me about one of your most difficult challenges and how you resolved it.”

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