Questions to ask candidate in a video interview

What are the best interview questions? Endless sample questions (and answers) can be found through a quick Google search -- which is why so many answers tend to feel rehearsed -- but the real challenge is finding questions that satisfy the goals of your particular search. For instance, if your goal is to find someone not only technically able but also compatible with your firm’s culture, consider asking: “In which kind of work environment do you most thrive?” You might try jotting down the qualities and qualifications you are seeking in a candidate, and then coming up with questions that elicit these. When in doubt, the standard fallback questions (such as the ones suggested by Ziggeo) will do the trick – e.g. “Why do you want the position? What relevant experience do you have? What do you like to do for fun?” These general queries may not elicit rocket-science answers, but they are straight-forward enough to help you decide whether the candidate is even in the running. If the position is more advanced, however, you should pose more advanced and specific questions – e.g., “If you were to create a social media campaign around [enter: your own newly launched product/service], what steps would you take to make it a success?” In addition, consider asking a question that tells you whether the candidate has researched your company and industry (e.g., “Why do you think our firm is a good fit for you?”). If the candidate hasn’t done this basic homework, go on to the next one. There are also various types of off-limits questions:
  1. The unfair question – e.g. “How much money did you make in the past?” (Answer: “None of your business”).
  2. The cliché question – e.g. “What’s your biggest weakness?” (Answer: “Questions like this.”)
  3. The gratuitously obnoxious question – e.g. “What kind of tree are you?” (Answer: “Are you Barbara Walters?”)
  4. The treading-on-legal-thin-ice question – e.g. “Do you prefer to go by your married name or your maiden name?” (Answer: “Did you seriously just ask me that?”)
  5. The you-can’t-ask-that question – e.g. “Do you attend church or synagogue?” (Answer: “I’ll see you in court.”)
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