What are opened-ended interview questions?
Open-ended interview questions require more than a yes/no answer. They are beneficial for job interviews because they:
- Drive conversation: These questions give structured interviews a more conversational feel.
- Demonstrate communication skills: To answer open-ended questions with strong answers, candidates must use active listening and oral communication skills to express themselves. You also also get the opportunity to observe their demeanor.
- Provide more detail: Because candidates can speak more freely, you may learn details that closed-ended questions wouldn’t effectively uncover.
- Showcase critical-thinking and decision-making skills: Thought-provoking questions allow you to gauge candidates’ problem-solving abilities.
- Highlight personality: Open interview questions allow candidates’ personalities to shine through, giving you a better feel for who they are.
Should you ever use closed-ended interview questions?
Closed-ended interview questions are useful to find out simple information, such as whether a candidate has used a specific software program or if they are willing to work weekends. You might also use them for clarification. For example, you might say, “Did I hear you say that you published an article last year?” Then, when they confirm, you could follow up with, “Tell me more about that,” to return the interview to an open-ended line of questioning.
Types of open interview questions
Here are some types of open-ended interview questions that you may wish to include:
Situational questions
Situational interview questions establish a set of circumstances and ask candidates to describe what they would do in the situation. Some examples include:
- What would you do if a customer was upset because their order never arrived?
- What would you say if a supervisor gave you feedback that was inaccurate or unfair?
- How would you resolve conflict with your coworkers over the temperature of the office?
“Tell me about…” questions
Questions that begin with “Tell me about…” effectively explore candidates’ previous experience and skills. Examples include:
- Tell me about a time when you exceeded a goal?
- Tell me about the best job you ever had?
- Tell me about a time you took ownership of a program?
“Would you rather…” questions
“Would you rather…” questions require candidates to choose between two options and explain their reasoning. They can be an effective way for candidates to demonstrate creativity and critical-thinking skills. Examples include:
- Would you rather go without a smartphone or a car?
- Would you rather solve a complex math equation or sing a song?
- Would you rather meet with someone virtually or in person?
Imaginative questions
Imaginative questions don’t necessarily relate to the job opening or the candidates’ skills and experience. They can be thought-provoking, unique or funny. These questions liven up interviews, showcase candidates’ personalities and allow you to see how individuals react to the unexpected. Examples include:
- What’s your favorite animal?
- If you could meet any historical figure who would it be?
- What would you do if you met an extraterrestrial?
Opening and closing questions
Opening questions are a way to break the ice and closing questions wrap things up. Examples of opening and closing questions include:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What motivated you to apply for this position?
- What’s something you hoped I would ask you but didn’t?
- Summarize your strengths in 10 words or less.
What to look for when asking open-ended interview questions
When evaluating interview performance, consider:
- Completeness of answers: Did the candidate actually answer the questions?
- Thoughtfulness of responses: Did the candidate take time to consider their answer and provide a thoughtful response?
- Clarity of responses: Did the candidate give clear answers that you could easily follow?
- Reactions to questions: Did the candidate exhibit any negative visible demeanor like eye rolling or frowning when asked a question?
- Content of answers: Did the candidate’s answers uncover any skills, traits and experience that indicate a candidate could be a good fit for the open position?
