MBA BUS 601 7–1

Interviewing
Candidates

Professor M. Khasro Miah Ph.D.

 MBA BUS 601 7–2

After studying
studying this chapter,
you should be able to:
1. List the main types of selection interviews.
2. Explain and illustrate at least six factors that
affect the usefulness of interviews.
3. Explain and illustrate each guideline for being a
more effective interviewer.
4. Effectively interview a job candidate.

7–2
7–2
7–2
 MBA BUS 601 7–3

Basic Features of Interviews

An interview
• A procedure designed to obtain
information from a person through
oral responses to oral inquiries
 MBA BUS 601 7–4

Types of Interviews
 Selection interview
A selection procedure designed to predict future job
performance on the basis of applicants’ oral responses to
oral inquiries.
 Appraisal interview
A discussion, following a performance appraisal, in which
supervisor and employee discuss the employee’s rating and
possible remedial actions.
 Exit interview
An interview to elicit information about the job or related matters to
the employer some insight into what’s right or wrong about the
firm.
 MBA BUS 601 7–5

Formats of Interviews
• Unstructured or nondirective interview
• An unstructured conversational-style
interview in which the interviewer pursues
points of interest as they come up in
response to questions.
• Structured or directive interview
• An interview following a set sequence of
questions.
 MBA BUS 601 7–6

Interview Content: Types of Questions

• Situational interview
• A series of job-related questions that focus on how the
candidate would behave in a given situation.
• Behavioral interview
• A series of job-related questions that focus on how they
reacted to actual situations in the past.
• Job-related interview
• A series of job-related questions that focus on relevant past
job-related behaviors.
MBA BUS 601 7–7

Structured
Interview
Guide

Source: Copyright 1992. The

Dartnell Corporation, Chicago, IL.
Adapted with permission.

Figure 7–1a
MBA BUS 601 7–8

Structured
Interview
Guide
(cont’d)

Source: Copyright 1992. The

Dartnell Corporation, Chicago, IL.
Adapted with permission.

Figure 7–1b
MBA BUS 601 7–9

Structured
Interview
Guide
(cont’d)

Source: Copyright 1992. The

Dartnell Corporation, Chicago, IL.
Adapted with permission.

Figure 7–1c
MBA BUS 601 7–10

HR Scorecard
for Hotel Paris
International
Corporation*

Note: *(An abbreviated example showing selected

HR practices and outcomes aimed at implementing
the competitive strategy, “To use superior guest
services to differentiate the Hotel Paris properties
and thus increase the length of stays and the return
rate of guests and thus boost revenues and
profitability”)

Figure 7–2
 MBA BUS 601 7–11

Interview Content: Types of

Questions
• Stress interview
• An interview in which the interviewer seeks to make the
applicant uncomfortable with occasionally impolite questions
that supposedly to spot sensitive applicants and those with
low or high stress tolerance.
• Puzzle questions
• Recruiters for technical, finance, and other types of jobs use
questions to pose problems requiring unique (“out-of-the-
box”) solutions to see how candidates think under pressure.
 MBA BUS 601 7–12

Personal or Individual Interviews

• Unstructured sequential interview
• An interview in which each interviewer forms an independent
opinion after asking different questions.
• Structured sequential interview
• An interview in which the applicant is interviewed sequentially
by several persons; each rates the applicant on a standard
form.
• Panel interview
• An interview in which a group of interviewers questions the
applicant.
 MBA BUS 601 7–13

Personal or Individual Interviews

• Panel (broad) interview
• An interview in which a group of interviewers questions the
applicant.
• Mass interview
• A panel interviews several candidates simultaneously.
 MBA BUS 601 7–14

Designing and Conducting the

Interview
• The structured situational interview
• Use either situational questions (preferred) or behavioral
questions that yield high criteria-related validities.
• Step 1: Job Analysis

• Step 2: Rate the Job’s Main Duties

• Step 3: Create Interview Questions

• Step 4: Create Benchmark Answers

• Step 5: Appoint the Interview Panel and Conduct

Interviews
 MBA BUS 601 7–15

How to Conduct an Effective

Interview
• Structure your interview:
1. Base questions on actual job duties.
2. Use job knowledge, situational, or behaviorally oriented
questions and objective criteria to evaluate the
interviewee’s responses.
3. Train interviewers.
4. Use the same questions with all candidates.
5. Use descriptive rating scales (excellent, fair, poor) to rate
answers.
6. Use multiple interviewers or panel interviews.
7. If possible, use a standardized interview form.
8. Control the interview.
9. Take brief, unexceptional notes during the interview.
 MBA BUS 601 7–16

Examples of Questions That Provide Structure

Situational Questions:
1. Suppose a co-worker was not following standard work procedures. The co-worker was
more experienced than you and claimed the new procedure was better. Would you use the
new procedure?
2. Suppose you were giving a sales presentation and a difficult technical question arose that
you could not answer. What would you do?
Past Behavior Questions:
3. Based on your past work experience, what is the most significant action you have ever
taken to help out a co-worker?
4. Can you provide an example of a specific instance where you developed a sales
presentation that was highly effective?
Background Questions:
5. What work experiences, training, or other qualifications do you have for working in a
teamwork environment?
6. What experience have you had with direct point-of-purchase sales?
Job Knowledge Questions:
7. What steps would you follow to conduct a brainstorming session with a group of employees
on safety?
8. What factors should you consider when developing a television advertising campaign?
Note: So that direct comparisons can be made, an example is presented to assess
both teamwork (1,3,5,7) and sales attributes (2,4,6,8) for each type of question.

Source: Michael Campion, David Palmer, and James Campion, “A Review of

Figure 7–3
Structure in the Selection Interview,” Personnel Psychology (1997), p. 668.
 MBA BUS 601 7–17

How to Conduct an Effective Interview

(cont’d)
• Prepare for the interview
• Secure a private room to minimize interruptions.
• Review the candidate’s application and résumé.
• Review the job specifications
• Establish rapport
• Put the person at ease.
• Ask questions
• Follow your list of questions.
• Don’t ask questions that can be answered yes or
no.
 MBA BUS 601 7–18

General Guidelines in Answering Interview

Questions

Be upbeat and positive. Never be negative.

Rehearse your answers and time them.
Never talk for more than 2 minutes straight.

Find out what people want, than show them how

you can help them get it.

you must match your abilities, with the needs of

the employer.
 MBA BUS 601 7–19

Important interview strategies:

Question 1 :    Tell me about yourself.

Question 2 :    What are your greatest
strengths?
Question 3  :   What are your greatest
weaknesses?
Question 4   :   Tell me about something you did
– or failed to do – that you now feel a little
ashamed of.
 MBA BUS 601 7–20

Question 5 :    Why are you leaving (or did you

leave) this position?

Question 6 :    The “Silent Treatment”

Question 7 :    Why should I hire you?

Question 8 :   Aren’t you overqualified for this position?

Question 9 :    Where do you see yourself five years
from now?
Question 10  :   Describe your ideal company, location
and job.
 MBA BUS 601 7–21

Question 11 :    Why do you want to work at

our company?
Question 12  :   What are your career options
right now?
Question 13 :    Why have you been out of
work so long?
Question 14 :    Tell me honestly about the
strong points and weak points of your boss
(company, management team, etc.)…
 MBA BUS 601 7–22

Question 15     What good books have you read

lately?

Question 16     Tell me about a situation when your

work was criticized.
Question 17     What are your outside interests?
Question 18     The “Fatal Flaw” question
Question 19     How do you feel about reporting to
a younger person (minority, woman, etc)?
Question 20     On confidential matters…
Question 21     Would you lie for the company?
 MBA BUS 601 7–23

Question 22  :   Looking back, what would you do differently

in your life?

Question 23  :   Could you have done better in your last job?
Question 24  :   Can you work under pressure?
Question 25   :  What makes you angry?
Question 26  :   Why aren’t you earning more money at this
stage of your career?
Question 27 :    Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Question 28 :    What was the toughest decision you ever
had to make?
Question 29  :   Tell me about the most boring job you’ve
ever had.
 MBA BUS 601 7–24

Question 30 :    Have you been absent from work more

than a few days in any previous position?
Question 31  :   What changes would you make if you
came on board?
Question 32 :    I’m concerned that you don’t have as
much experience as we’d like in…
Question 33  :   How do you feel about working nights
and weekends?
Question 34 :    Are you willing to relocate or travel?
Question 35 :    Do you have the stomach to fire
people?  Have you had experience firing many
people?
Question 36  :   Why have you had so many jobs?
 MBA BUS 601 7–25

Question 37 :    What do you see as the proper role/mission

of…
Question 38  :   What would you say to your boss if he’s crazy
about an idea, but you think it stinks?
Question 39:     How could you have improved your career
progress?
Question 40:     What would you do if a fellow executive on
your own corporate level wasn’t pulling his/her weight…and
this was hurting your department?
Question 41 :    You’ve been with your firm a long time. 
Won’t it be hard switching to a new company?
Question 42 :    May I contact your present employer for a
reference?
 MBA BUS 601 7–26

Question 43:     Give me an example of your creativity

(analytical skill…managing ability, etc.
Question 44 :    Where could you use some
improvement?
Question 45:     What do you worry about?
Question 46:     How many hours a week do you
normally work?
Question 47 :    What’s the most difficult part of being a
(job title)?
Question 48 :    The “Hypothetical Problem”
 MBA BUS 601 7–27

Question 49  :   What was the toughest challenge

you’ve ever faced?
Question 50 :    Have you consider starting your own
business?
Question 51 :    What are your goals?
Question 52  :   What do you for when you hire people?
Question 53  :    Sell me this stapler…(this pencil…this
clock…or some other object on interviewer’s desk).
Question 54 :    “The Salary Question” – How much
money do you want?
Question 55 :    The Illegal Question
Question 56  :   The “Secret” Illegal Question
 MBA BUS 601 7–28

Question 57  :   What was the toughest part of your last

job?
Question 58:     How do you define success…and how
do you measure up to your own definition?
Question 59  :   “The Opinion Question” – What do
you think about …Abortion…The President…The
Death Penalty…(or any other controversial subject)?
Question 60 :    If you won $10 million lottery, would
you still work?
 MBA BUS 601 7–29

Question 61 :    Looking back on your last position,

have you done your best work?
Question 62  :   Why should I hire you from the
outside when I could promote someone from within?
Question 63  :   Tell me something negative you’ve
heard about our company…
Question 64  :   On a scale of one to ten, rate me as an
interviewer.
 MBA BUS 601 7–30

Key Terms
Unstructured or nondirective
Interview
Structured or directive interview
Situational interview
Behavioral interviews
Job-related interview
Stress interview
Unstructured sequential interview
Structured sequential interview
Panel interview
Mass interview
Candidate-order error