How to Properly Interview for Interpersonal Skills
November 3rd, 2017Collaboration and teamwork are becoming increasingly important in the workplace – no matter the business sector. The information technology world is one example where the DevOps organizational framework combines developers, network engineers and business analysts under one common umbrella. All this interaction means employees need to have strong interpersonal abilities to succeed in the modern office.
When your company is looking for fresh talent, it is important your managers know how to determine whether a candidate boasts the interpersonal skills required for success in your office. Here are a few questions worth asking to determine if that person would make a good fit on your team. Good luck!
Making a Difficult Work Relationship Succeed
Sometimes one is required to interact with a co-worker they simply do not like. Ask the candidate about similar situations in their career while finding out how they ultimately handled the issue. Were they able to make the relationship work for the benefit of the company?
Handling Disagreements in the Office
Throughout their work history, find out how the candidate dealt with disagreements with their direct supervisor or someone else from management. Were they able to approach the situation in a professional manner? Did the candidate ultimately respect the managerial authority of their employer?
Developing Friendships With Their Co-Workers
Was the candidate able to develop meaningful, long-lasting friendships with some of their previous co-workers? Follow up to see if these relationships impacted their performance at work in a positive manner. Have they remained friends with these coworkers as their career developed?
Personality Types that annoy them while at Work
Ask a question or two to determine the personality types they have difficulty interacting with in an office environment. Were they still able to successfully collaborate with these co-workers? This is especially useful if your company currently employs workers who share some of these traits.
Do They Make Work Friends Easily?
It is important that new hires become productive as quickly as possible after the onboarding process. Determine if the candidate was able to develop relationships soon after being hired. Have them describe this process at a few of their previous employers, since this offers some idea on how they’d react when joining your company.
If you need additional advice on building a talented team at your company, talk to the experts at PrideStaff Houston. As one of the top general staffing agencies in the Greater Houston area, we also maintain a robust supply of great candidates able to be successful for you. Schedule some time with us as soon as possible.