Unspoken Interview Questions

As a hiring manager or recruiter, there are certain unspoken interview questions that you want to ask your job candidates, but know that you cannot.  So, you look for other ways to get your answers to these questions.  The problem is, many candidates may not understand the true intention behind your questions and you do not get your true question answered.

Here are the most common unspoken interview questions you want to ask, but can’t, and how you can get the answers you are looking for:

• Can you do the job?  Since you cannot come right out and ask this question, there are other ways you can determine if the candidate can in fact do the job you are interviewing for.  The best question you can ask to get this information is, describe your prior work experience with this kind of work?  This question should prompt the candidate to discuss his/her skills required to perform the position.
• Do you have a positive attitude?  You want to make sure the candidate has a positive attitude towards the job itself, therefore when you ask the question, tell me about a time that you failed and what you did to get past it?  This question will give you the answers you are looking for regarding positivity.
• Did you research our company?  You will be able to find a candidate that is eager to work for you by knowing if they took the time to research your company before the interview.  Ask, why do you want to work for us?  Those that have done their research, will answer with specific information they found during their research.  Those that give a vague answer or an answer that is about themselves, most likely did no research.
• What kind of value will you bring to our company?  When you ask a candidate what their greatest strengths are, you should expect a response that will incorporate their skills with how they can be applied to the position.  

As you ask these questions, it is essential to remember that the answers you get may or may not give you the exact information you are looking for.  However, they will help you gain knowledge related to your true question, therefore, giving you a better glimpse into the candidate and their fit for the position.