Blog with Rob: Do you only hire people you like?

We all do it. We connect with someone instantly at the beginning of an interview and occasionally overlook qualities in the candidate that we know may not be the right fit for the job. How does this happen?

Well according to experts, it’s the questions that we ask. I agree with their general thoughts that the interview process favors the social, because I’ll readily admit I’m put off by awkward silences, conversations that don’t flow naturally or answers that stump me. It’s much easier to keep the interview going with a social and engaging person, no matter how qualified – or unqualified – they are for the job. Naturally, you want to hire someone that you’d want to hang out with, right?

Wrong. While you want to hire someone that will get along well with others, fostering that sense of comfort in the interview can be misleading. Here are some of the questions that employers need to avoid using going forward to help screen the good candidates from the bad below. To be honest – I’ve used half of them myself!

The Bad Questions List:

1. What’s your greatest weakness?

2. Tell me about a time that you demonstrated leadership.

3. What three things would you bring to a desert island? (Maybe not this questions exactly but you get the drift)

4. Hypothetically speaking … (insert situation here)

What are some of the worst interview questions you’ve been asked?