Although preparing for a job interview might be intimidating, it’s important to understand the difficulties experienced by the interviewers as well. Interviewers have a limited amount of time to evaluate applicants completely, so they must develop questions quickly. Chris Williams, a former vice president of HR at Microsoft, clarifies the nuances of applicant evaluation in this area.
Drawing on his background as a podcaster, consultant, and HR specialist, Chris Williams highlights the importance of recognizing driven individuals who possess exceptional communication and adaptation skills.
Williams presents a unique question at the beginning of the interview to help determine a candidate’s fitness. His question, “Tell me something you’ve learned in the last couple of days,” gauges applicants’ aptitude for articulating their experiences, curiosity, and flexibility. The way a candidate answers this question provides insightful information. Williams emphasizes that regardless of the topic, a strong candidate shows a lot of excitement and a desire to pass along new information
Additionally, the candidate’s capacity for sharing what they’ve learned demonstrates their knack for working well in a team. Williams emphasizes how crucial it is for applicants to engage the interviewer with their hobbies and experiences by framing them in a way that highlights their communication abilities and eagerness to learn.
On the other hand, applicants who find it difficult to reply meaningfully raise possible signs of trouble. Williams points out that it may be a sign of a candidate’s lack of involvement or flexibility if they go blank or cannot describe recent learning experiences. Even though these situations are uncommon, they call for extra evaluation to guarantee compliance with the organization’s criteria.
Essentially, Williams’ nontraditional way of questioning is a strong tool for evaluating applicants not just on the basis of their technical expertise but also on their curiosity, flexibility, and communication skills. Asking applicants to consider their most recent educational experiences helps interviewers learn how well they could fit into the company.
Candidates must prepare to successfully navigate the difficulties of job interviews, and interviewers must ask intelligent questions. Unconventional methods, like Chris Williams’s question, provide a detailed way of evaluating candidates and make it easier to find exceptional candidates who share the company’s goals and values.
