"Tell me about a result or achievement you're very proud of. How did it come to be a goal for you, and what did you do to accomplish it?"
(Crucial followup after they answer) "Now tell me about a mistake you made along the way and how you overcame it."
Talking about real work provides insight into motivations and enthusiasms, and gives you permission to dive into details as they talk. It also helps show whether they have a healthy attitude about mistakes. This question can also provide some insight into team dynamics since very few big things are accomplished solo these days.
From the applicant side:
"Let's say I get hired and I do an amazing job. You're going to write my 6-month or annual review--what would you write?"
Like Amazon's trick of writing the press release first, this helps hiring managers get specific about their expectations for the hire. It's amazing how often companies hire folks with only a vague sense of what success should look like.
"Tell me about a result or achievement you're very proud of. How did it come to be a goal for you, and what did you do to accomplish it?"
(Crucial followup after they answer) "Now tell me about a mistake you made along the way and how you overcame it."
Talking about real work provides insight into motivations and enthusiasms, and gives you permission to dive into details as they talk. It also helps show whether they have a healthy attitude about mistakes. This question can also provide some insight into team dynamics since very few big things are accomplished solo these days.
From the applicant side:
"Let's say I get hired and I do an amazing job. You're going to write my 6-month or annual review--what would you write?"
Like Amazon's trick of writing the press release first, this helps hiring managers get specific about their expectations for the hire. It's amazing how often companies hire folks with only a vague sense of what success should look like.