Why The Best Interview Question Is No Question At All

Why the Best Interview Question Is No Question At All Back once I was a company recruiter, I was all the time in search of new ways to interview a candidate. It’s the position of the interviewer to find out if the candidate will be the proper fit for the job or not. In order to do this, it will take some trial and error or certain interview questions or total methods. I used to think that my role as the interviewer was to ask the questions and then sit again and listen to the answers given to me. I was mistaken. In time, I discovered that the most effective interviews were conversations, however more importantly, the most effective interview inquiries to ask had been no questions at all. (Click here to tweet this thought.) Say What? How is that this attainable!? Ask a query with out saying something? I found that probably the greatest ways to study more about someone or something was to simply take heed to them discuss by saying nothing. We as human beings despise the concept of something awkward, specifically in interviews. Society has programmed us to assume that in an interview, there must be constant communication â€" somebody should always be talking. I humbly disagree. While a great interview is a conversation of thought sharing and learning, a greater interview is when the dialog is stuffed with properly thought-out answers, ones the candidate really means and believes and never something rehearsed or memorized. A nice interviewer can tell whenever you’re feeding them rehearsed or memorized solutions; nevertheless, nice interviewers don’t all the time know tips on how to get round these and get to the interviewee’s true feelings. Thus, I shall reveal my tactic that has by no means failed me. It’s easy: When an interviewee provides you any type of rehearsed or memorized answer, simply merely say nothing. Give them the look that says, “Yes, yes. I’m very interested â€" please maintain talking.” Now, trust me, it will be very awkward, particularly your first time, but maintain your floor. It might be via this awkwardness that the true answer will reveal itself. Because no one likes awkward silences, the interviewee will feel as if they need to say one thing, something, to interrupt the silence. What they are saying will at all times be a continuation of what they were final saying. It will be right here that you will study their true feelings… principally, what they actually think. As interviewers, we’re trying to learn how the interviewee handles stress, and it is a great method to gauge it: by way of their word vomit. (Yes, that may be a Mean Girls reference â€" I knew it will turn out to be useful one day!) What This Means for Interviewees Now, while what you just read was geared extra towards the interviewers, I’m positive all of the people studying this who're the interviewees are asking, “Well, I don’t want that. What can I do?” Easy! When you sense any sort of awkward silence, that is your second to sell yourself. Take the chance to remind the interviewer why they need to rent you. A smart way to do that is to start speaking about certainly one of your proudest accomplishments. It might be a few time you saved the company money, created operational efficiencies or a new concept you launched and put into motion. What you particularly say doesn’t matter as a lot as your seizing the chance to promote your self. The awkward silence move is a difficult play utilized by nice interviewers, and with the ability to acknowledge it and capitalize on it'll prove to the interviewer that you’re an attentive listener who’s additionally conscious of your constructive attributes. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself at each opportunity given to you. What’s your very best tip for handling awkward interview questions? Share within the comments! Image: Photobucket