Looking for interview questions to ask when meeting with your top candidates?

 

“What are great interview questions to ask?” As a headhunter with over 15 years of experience, I’ve been asked this question countless times. Interviewing is an acquired skill. It is critical to ask the right questions when you are filling mid to senior level executive positions.

 

Interview Questions to Ask

by Liz Gehl, Founder and Chief Recruiter of Gehl Search Partners
 

Hiring for industries like cannabis, or wine and spirits can be tricky. Many of the skills and personality traits required are unique to the adult consumption industries. Over the years, I’ve learned which questions reveal a person’s:

• work habits,
• necessary experience,
• personality traits,
• industry-specific knowledge,
• career goals, and
• corporate or industry compatibility.

 

After delivering a fully-vetted and reference-checked list of top candidates, executives often ask me for a list of best interview questions to ask their qualified talent pool.

 

You (or your recruiting firm) have referenced-checked and vetted your candidate. Now what?

 

It’s important to determine if an applicant is a fit for your company culture. What are the top interview questions to ask when you meet with them one on one? I’ve developed a list of conversation starting interview questions that help alcohol or cannabis companies assess candidate compatibility.

 

These questions help human resource and C-Suite executives start conversations and get a sense of an applicant’s work ethic, experience and personality.

 

Here is a list of interview questions to ask from Liz Gehl, Founder and Chief Recruiter at Gehl Search Partners. Liz has over 15 years of experience and is widely considered a top head-hunter in the cannabis, wine and spirits industries.

 

1. Tell me about a time when you were juggling multiple priorities and more than one “thing” fell through in meeting your strict deadline. What happened and how were you able to overcome?

 

2. Many times the best teams are comprised of varying personalities. Describe a time when you teamed up with someone on a professional project who was very different than you. What was the outcome?

 

3. Our industry can come with a bit of judgement. Tell me about a time where you stood up for something you believed in?

 

4. Nobody is perfect; we all have our strengths and areas of opportunity. Describe a time when you became self aware about one of your shortcomings. How you were able to overcome it to ensure a successful outcome?

 

5. When you think of what drives you to get up every morning and to be passionate about what you do, what comes to mind first?

 

6. What do you find more motivating, an opportunity to give back or an opportunity to climb up the ranks (the corporate ladder, etc)? (You could also sub in opportunity to gain equity, opportunity to build something great, or opportunity to be at the ground floor.)

 

7. Has there ever been a time when a person within leadership has made a decision that you vehemently disagreed with?  If so, how did you handle it?

 

8. There is the saying “it is better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission”. Tell me about a time when you’ve utilized this thought process in the workplace. OR, There is the saying “better safe than sorry”. Tell me about a time when you’ve utilized this in the workplace.

 

If you are looking for more specific industry-related interview questions, please fill out our contact form.