We just finished up with a round of interviewing and hired a bright, young associate. She’s impressive and we’re fortunate to have found her.
Being involved in the interviews got me thinking about my favorite interview questions. I’m not sure if they tell me as much about a candidate as I’d like, but I enjoy asking them and hearing the answers.
Here they are -
1. What are you most proud of in your life?
2. How much money do you want to make?
3. What would you do if you won the lottery?
4. Sell me this pencil.
5. If you could represent anyone in history, who would it be and why?
6. Do you wear a watch? Read a newspaper? Vote?
7. How many friends to do you have on Facebook?
8. What has been your greatest failure and what did you learn form it?
9. Do you hold a grudge? Against whom? Why?
10. What do you love most about your life?
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
These are great! Original and fun. I get the newspaper/vote questions, and why having that information would reveal something important, at least to me, about the candidate, but curious about the watch question. So many folks now use their smart phones, digital office phone on desk, etc. to check the time. Share your thoughts on why that question is asked/what the answer reveals, in your opinion. Thanks, Teresa
Teresa,
For a long time I thought that wearing a watch was a good sign of maturity/responsibility. Then that changed when all the young people stopped wearing watches and I figured it didn’t reveal much. However, I’m starting to think that it matters more than I thought and that people that wear watches actually know what time it is and show up where they need to be, on time. Do you think it could reveal anything today?
Lee
And what do you think you learn about a person based on the answers to these questions?
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Kevin,
I’m not sure if I learn anything at all, but I have a pretty good time chatting. I’ve concluded, sadly, that I’m not especially good at this process and that’s after taking a bunch of courses and reading a bunch of books on the topic. Overall, I suppose I determine if I like the person and whether they can articulate reasonably intelligent responses.
Lee
Congrats Lee! Was this the same woman who was leaving another firm, or did you decide to go with someone new?
Hope you are having a good January so far!
Jim Hart
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My 10 Favorite Interview Questions – http://divorcediscourse.com/2010/01/27/10-favorite-interview-questions/
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
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Lee –
I love the question/statement about selling me this pencil. I think something that a lot of new attorneys who go out on their own or join a small firm forget is that half the battle is getting people to know who you are and why they should use you instead of someone else in this saturated marketplace.
If a person can do a good job selling something like a pencil then they ’should’ be able to do a good job on selling their services and firm to a potential client, other attorneys, and members of the community. Great question!
Damon Duncan
Duncan Law, PLLC
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