Not only are our corporate employees and the Recruiters of Planet Technology and our sister company, Planet Professional, experts on evaluating talent on behalf of our clients, they are also seasoned professionals that manage their own teams and routinely interview internal candidates. We asked them for their go-to questions when talking to prospective employees seeking a job in staffing. Although each has their favorite inquiry, it’s not surprising that all the questions are open-ended, prompting the opportunity for follow-up dialogue.

Here’s what they’re asking:

Meghan Balavender | Planet Technology

Question: What do you think will make a person successful in this position?

This is a question I ask toward the end of an interview for several reasons, including:

1. It shows me the candidate’s listening skills. What do they think the role is about? Listening skills are crucial for jobs in staffing, and Recruiters need to be able to retain and reiterate accurate information.
2. It’s an open-ended question with no right or wrong answer. It gives me some insight into the candidate’s personality and what they will focus on in a recruiting position.
3. Their answer shows me if they have a realistic understanding of the position. What do they think will be easy or challenging about the role based on their answer?
4. How they respond also shows whether they can see themselves in the role.

This question is also a great segue into follow-up questions. Based on their answer, it allows me to dig into where they might do very well or where they would need improvement.

Kris MacDermott | Planet Technology

Question: What do you like most about your current job?

This is one of my go-to questions because there isn’t a correct answer. Instead, I am really trying to start dialogue and uncover what they like and what motives them. Often when I ask this question, I will learn what they do not like, which can help determine if they are suited for a job in staffing.

Ninety percent of the time I find this question to be helpful. Even if the response isn’t relatable to the role, it still helps me to get an understanding of their thought process and what they find important.

Katie Karter | The Planet Group, Internal Recruiter

Question: What is the most important thing to you in your next opportunity?

I like this question because it gives me an idea of where the candidate is coming from. Typically, they answer with what they are lacking in their current role. Is it the commute? Work/life balance? Cultural fit? More collaboration? More autonomy? Money?

There is no right or wrong answer, but it really makes the candidate think about whether a job in staffing will be a good fit for them and gives me the opportunity to learn about what is important to them in their next role.

Elizabeth Spayne | The Planet Group, Marketing

Question: Would you rather work on one large account or 20 small accounts?

Similarly to the queries above, there isn’t a correct answer to this question, but it’s one of my favorites to ask as a candidate’s response is a significant indicator of their style of work.

Someone choosing a large account could prefer being focused on one task, have a penchant for project and people management and need an environment that lends itself to concentration. They could be an introvert that really likes to dig into the details, or an extrovert that wants to seek multiple opinions and the recognition that comes with a large initiative.

The person choosing multiple small accounts may be more creative, enjoy being a go-to resource, relish organization or need to have a defined end to tasks. They may also be seeking additional experience or feel a desire to prove themselves from the start.

Not only will the answer to this question help you determine if the candidate is a fit for your team and the work they will contribute, but it will help you manage them and ensure their future success.

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