Tip Of The Day!!!

How To Ask Questions To An Interviewee

If you are asking questions to an interviewee, there are some things you can do to make your job, and theirs, much easier in the efficient exchange of information.

The first is to ask direct questions, with as few words as possible.

Don't beat around the bush and say:

"Please could you tell me a little bit about the key things that you might have done in situation X to achieve a desired target of Y"

But keep it simple and direct:

"Tell me how you achieved Y in situation X".

The filling words just give more for the candidate to think about and don't help; always ask the question in simple and succinct terms.

Notice the use of a clear leading word: HOW. Always couch questions with a word like how to allow focus for the candidate to answer. Rather than 'a little bit about' which is more vague and doesn't lead so much.

Also remember not to ask questions negatively. Don't ask:

"Tell me the things that didn't go right in the situation?" but rather

"What went well, and what could have gone better?"

Questions asked in the negative are proven not to be as effective at getting good quality responses as those couched in positive terms.