Ask Your Candidates WHY

Ask Your Candidates WHY

At RJ & Makay, we think it is sometimes more important to find out why a candidate asked a question than to answer the question (although we do answer his or her questions). We look at the kinds of questions a candidate is asking us, but we also try to dig deeper into what is behind the questions being asked. When you are interviewing a candidate, we recommend that you evaluate the question the interviewee is asking from a deeper perspective.

When a candidate asks us a question, we try to find out what motivation or concern is causing that question to be asked. This is where you can often get a deeper insight to the candidate because they are typically more relaxed and open when you are asking questions about their questions.

A candidate asks, “What are the advancement opportunities?” We respond by asking, “How important are advancement opportunities to you? What are your goals for advancing your career?”
A candidate asks, “Please tell me about your corporate culture.” We respond by asking, “Great question. How important is the corporate culture you work in to you? What kind of a corporate culture do you favor the most?”

A candidate’s questions give great insight to what is most important to him or her. It reveals the “hot topics” the candidate is most concerned with. By asking the candidate a question about his or her question, you are able to help the candidate reveal more clearly the value he or she will bring to your organization.