If you are looking to hire someone for your team, interviewing can be more challenging than it may seem. Not only do you have to make a great impression on the candidate, but you also need to be closely assessing whether they have the right skills for the job and are a good fit for your organization. This starts with the right interview questions. If you don’t ask the right questions, you could end up hiring the wrong candidate and may find yourself back in the interviewing process sooner rather than later.

If you want to find the right employee for your team, consider asking these six interview questions:

What is your biggest accomplishment at work?

Instead of simply asking candidates about their strengths, ask them about their accomplishments in their previous roles. This will paint a better picture of how their strengths are utilized in the workplace. It can also be beneficial to ask this question at the beginning of the interview since it can help build the candidate’s confidence, which will allow them to showcase their best self throughout the interview.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

You’ll want to be able to retain your potential employee once they start in the role. That’s why you’ll need to ask what the candidate’s ideal career path is. Once they answer your question, you’ll need to see if their career path aligns with what your organization can offer them.

Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work and how you managed the situation?

If you work in a very collaborative environment, it’s important to ask candidates how they handle conflict in the workplace. You’ll want to know how they will work with a variety of different colleagues and understand how they’re able to handle conflict and resolve issues. If you don’t, you may end up with a toxic employee on your team.

What was a failure you had to overcome at work, and what have you learned from this experience?

Asking about a candidate’s failures in the workplace is a difficult question, but it can provide a lot of important information for your team. You’ll not only get a clearer picture of the candidate’s weaknesses, but you’ll also find out how self-aware the candidate is and if they are able to own up to their mistakes. How they overcome a failure in the workplace will also help uncover their problem-solving capabilities, which is important for any role you hope to fill.

What excites you about the position and our organization?

Passion and enthusiasm are essential to all employees’ future success. Remember, a less experienced hire can be better than a disengaged employee. Skills can be taught, but an individual who has lost their motivation will not be able to do their best work. That’s why getting insight on why they want the position and why they want to work at your organization will help you determine if they have the passion to take on the role.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

Understanding how well a potential employee can do the job is the most critical part of the interview. However, it’s important to get to know a candidate on a personal level to ensure they will get along with the team. Remember, this is someone you’ll be working with for most of the workday. You’ll want to make sure the potential employee will get along with you and your team, and hopefully build friendships throughout their tenure.

Working Remotely? Read Our Guide On How To Hire And Manage A Remote Team