One of the most difficult attributes to assess in a job applicant is his or her approach to decision making. But here’s a deceptively simple question that will reveal several insights if you just sit back and listen to how the person responds: “Tell me about the most challenging problem you’ve faced and how you resolved or dealt with it.”
- Consider how long it takes for the person to come up with a suitable example. It can be safely assumed that those who are stumped by the question may not be very experienced or confident in their decision making. It should make you wonder about the person’s level of self-awareness.
- Consider the sophistication of the challenge described. It might be assumed that those applying for positions requiring a certain level of sophistication will have faced and overcome similar situations in past jobs. If not, you need to reconcile this gap.
- Listen to the vocabulary used to describe the situation. Does this person express him- or herself in a way that would be a good match for the position you have open?
- Consider how well organized the applicant is as he or she explains the resolution. If the applicant appears scattered in explaining the situation, how will he or she behave on the job?
- Consider the approach taken to resolve the situation. You may not have approached the challenge the same way, but the applicant’s response will provide an insight of how he or she will approach similar challenges while working for you.
- Consider the confidence with which the challenge and resolution are described. An applicant comfortable in explaining mistakes or failures and the recovery from them demonstrates a self-awareness that should be sought. Of course, if the story described sounds too smooth or rehearsed you might wonder about its veracity.
- Consider the applicant’s posture and body language while relating the situation and resolution. Are they consistent with the nature of the story. If not, you need to reconcile the differences.
All this out of one simple question. Who knew??