With the labour market experiencing significant shortages, companies are facing challenges in recruiting and retaining top talent.
A recent survey by Yoh, an international talent and outsourcing company, provides insights into the types of questions job candidates find most valuable during interviews.
The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Yoh among 2,084 adults in the United States, asked participants to select the interview questions they would prefer to answer. The most favored question, chosen by 54% of respondents, was: “What do you think makes you a good candidate for this job?” This preference indicates a traditional approach where candidates can directly showcase their suitability for the role.
“Interviews are fundamental to the hiring process, and as the findings of our latest survey underscore, decisions about which questions to ask should not be taken lightly. This is especially true considering ongoing talent shortages and the need to optimize all recruitment touchpoints to source candidates and fill open positions,” said Emmett McGrath, President of Yoh.
The survey revealed that 90% of respondents would want to be asked one or more of the following questions during a job interview:
| Interview Question | Percentage of Respondents |
|---|---|
| What do you think makes you a good candidate for this job? | 54% |
| What soft skills (e.g., adaptability, conflict resolution, problem-solving) do you possess that would make you a good candidate for this job? | 46% |
| What did you like most about your last job? | 45% |
| What is an accomplishment (personal or professional) you are proud of and why? | 44% |
| How do you handle high-stress situations at work? | 43% |
| What would success in this position mean to you? | 41% |
| What is a quality of a manager you like best? | 38% |
| If money was no object, what would you choose to do as a career? | 28% |
| What did you dislike about your last job? | 27% |
| What resources do you need to have available in your next job? | 27% |
| What are your non-negotiables in a job? | 24% |
| What management style do you dislike the most? | 20% |
| What is a quality of a manager you dislike? | 19% |
Positively framed questions
The survey data indicates that candidates prefer positively framed questions. For instance, 45% of respondents wanted to be asked “What did you like most about your last job?” compared to only 27% who preferred the question “What did you dislike about your last job?” This preference was particularly strong among college graduates.
Candidates also expressed interest in discussing how they handle adversity, with 43% wanting to answer “How do you handle high-stress situations at work?” This interest was notably higher among Hispanic respondents (51%) compared to White, non-Hispanic respondents (41%).
Personal, professional accomplishments
Questions about personal or professional accomplishments were also popular, especially among older, more affluent, and better-educated respondents. For example, 52% of respondents aged 65 and older wanted to discuss their achievements, compared to 37% of those aged 18-34.
However, not all questions were well-received. Questions about candidates’ specific needs or hypothetical scenarios were less favored. Only 24% wanted to answer “What are your non-negotiables in a job?” and 27% were interested in discussing “What resources do you need to have available in your next job?” Additionally, only 28% favored the hypothetical question “If money was no object, what would you choose to do as a career?”
Keep questions simple, relevant
McGrath advised hiring managers to keep questions simple and relevant to the role at hand.
“Sometimes, the simpler the question, the easier it is for candidates to demonstrate their ability to succeed within a role. And with the talent market the way it is, getting there in the easiest way possible can help expedite the process,” he said.
For over 80 years, Yoh has been providing talent solutions in fields such as engineering, healthcare, life sciences, and information technology. Yoh is part of Day & Zimmermann, a $2.7 billion U.S. services company.
