A recruiter asking 3 candidates personality interview questions

HR Resources

14 Personality Interview Questions to Ask Top Talent Today

September 11, 2022

Reem Al-Tamimi

Reem Al-Tamimi

Content Writer

Want to ensure you hire the best fit for your company? It’s all about asking the right questions during interviews! Don’t make the mistake of overlooking the importance of personality interview questions – they can make all the difference in finding the perfect candidate. 

By getting to know the person behind the resume, you can gauge if they have the right personality for the job and if they’ll thrive in your company culture. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to really get to know your candidates – add personality questions to your interview process today!

As a recruiter, do you know what to ask during a personality interview? In this blog post, we will discuss 14 personality interview questions that will help you get to know top talent. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn more about the people you are interviewing!

What is a Personality Interview Question?

Have you ever wondered what makes each person so unique? It’s their personality! Our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors create a one-of-a-kind blend that sets us apart from everyone else. And let’s be real, isn’t it fascinating to get to know someone’s personality?

Personality interview questions can give you a glimpse into a person’s inner world. You can learn how they approach challenges, what makes them tick, and how they connect with others. It’s like a window into their soul!

So, whether you’re interviewing a potential employee, getting to know a new friend, or even going on a date, asking personality interview questions can help you connect on a deeper level. Who knows, you might even learn something new about yourself in the process! So, let’s dive in and discover the importance of these questions.

A Few Things You Should Keep In Mind Before Asking the Questions

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of someone’s personality? Asking the right questions can help you discover what makes a person tick and how they approach life. But before you dive into a personality interview, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to ensure a successful and productive conversation.

  • Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” These questions won’t give you the information you’re looking for.
  • Ask open-ended questions that will encourage the person to talk more.
  • Stay away from questions that are too personal. You want to keep the interview professional and avoid making the person feel uncomfortable.

Now that we’ve discussed the importance of asking personality-based questions let’s look at 14 of the best questions to ask during a personality interview.

two candidates answering Personality Interview Questions

What Personality Interview Questions Should You Ask?

Unlocking the key to a candidate’s personality is crucial to understanding their potential success in a role. But what personality interview questions should you ask to truly get to know the person behind the resume?

You need to ask targeted and thought-provoking questions. This way can gain a deeper understanding of the candidate’s work style. Here are some powerful personality interview questions to help you uncover the unique traits and strengths of top talent.

What Is One Trait That Makes You a Unique Candidate?

If you want to give your candidate the opportunity to shine and showcase their individuality, this is the perfect personality interview question. It allows them to highlight a specific quality or skill that sets them apart from other candidates. By asking this question, you can glean valuable insights into the candidate’s strengths. Plus, you make them feel valued and appreciated for their unique qualities and skills. 

Do You Prefer to Work Alone or on a Team?

Do you want to find out what kind of work style the candidate feels most comfortable with? Ask this personality interview question. It can give you hint about their communication skills, their ability to collaborate with others, and their overall work preferences. Their response can also help you determine if they would be a good fit for both the position and the company culture. By asking this question, you can understand the candidate’s work style and how it aligns with the needs of the organization and team.

How Do You Deal With Stress and Pressure?

This is a great personality interview question to understand how a candidate handles challenging situations in the workplace. The question can help you assess the candidate’s stress management skills, coping mechanisms, and overall approach to handling pressure. The candidates’ responses will reveal if they are able to stay calm and focused under pressure. Plus, if they can manage their workload effectively and prioritize tasks.

What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?

It is very common for recruiters to ask this personality interview question. It ultimately reveals the candidates’ self-awareness and problem-solving abilities. Their strengths can showcase what makes them unique, while their weaknesses can provide opportunities for growth and development. By understanding both, you can determine if their qualities align with the position and company culture.

A recruiter asking Personality Interview Questions

How Do You Handle Criticism?

In today’s fast-paced work environment, the ability to handle criticism and feedback is crucial for success. Asking this personality interview question is an excellent way to assess their willingness to receive feedback and their ability to respond constructively. This way, you will understand how the candidate handles criticism. Plus, you can gauge their potential to grow and develop in the position, as well as their fit within the company culture.

What Is Your Ideal Work Environment?

Understanding a candidate’s preferred work environment is essential to ensure a good fit for the role and company culture. The answer to this question will help you know the candidate’s values, work style, and expectations. As a result, you can determine if the candidate is a good fit for the team and if the organization can meet their needs.

What Are Your Thoughts on Change?

Change is an inevitable part of any organization, and the ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic environment is essential for success. That’s why it’s critical to assess a candidate’s attitude toward change during an interview.  With this personality interview question, you can know how they handle uncertainty, ambiguity, and challenges, which are all critical factors in today’s fast-paced work environment. 

How Do You Deal With Conflict?

Conflict is a natural part of any workplace, and the ability to handle it effectively is critical for maintaining a positive work environment. That’s why you need to ask your candidate about how they deal with conflicts and how they approach difficult conversations, and how they navigate interpersonal challenges. This is essential for fostering healthy working relationships.

What Is Your Problem-Solving Style?

Asking candidates about their problem-solving abilities is crucial in today’s ever-changing work environments. You need to understand their approach to complex problems, whether they prefer collaboration or independent thinking. Plus, you need to know how they use data and intuition to inform their solutions. This personality interview question allows you to assess the candidate’s adaptability and willingness to learn new approaches. 

How Do You Handle Failure?

Do you want to identify candidates who can handle adversity and come out stronger? Ask them how they handle failure during a personality interview. This question can reveal a lot about their character, including their ability to bounce back, their approach to problem-solving, and their openness to feedback. Their response can help you determine whether they have the emotional intelligence and resilience to thrive in a dynamic work environment.

What Is Your Decision-Making Process?

If you want to know how a candidate makes decisions, this personality interview question is essential. By asking the candidate to describe their decision-making process, you can get a better understanding of their analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and ability to evaluate risks and rewards. Plus, you will get to hint at their level of confidence, adaptability, and communication skills.

Can People Communicate With You Comfortably?

This personality interview question to a candidate, it can be an excellent way to gauge their communication skills and interpersonal abilities. By asking this question, you can learn how the candidate interacts with others and whether they are approachable and friendly. This allows you to know whether they have the necessary skills to build relationships and be a team player. Therefore, you can determine their fit within the team members and the company’s culture.

How Would You Describe Your Personality?

When it comes to hiring top talent, understanding a candidate’s personality is key. This question allows the candidate to showcase their self-awareness and how they perceive themselves. Their answer can also provide insight into their communication style, level of confidence, and how they may fit within the company culture. By asking this question, you can gain a better understanding of the candidate’s personality and determine whether they are the right fit for the position and team.

What Motivates You?

Do you want to discover what drives a candidate and keeps them motivated? This personality interview question can reveal their values, passions, and aspirations. Understanding what motivates a candidate can help you identify opportunities to keep them engaged and fulfilled in their work. With their answer, you can get a glimpse of what inspires them and keeps them striving for success.

Why Are Personality-Based Questions Important?

A recruiter ending an interview with a candidate

Remember, hiring the right employee is not just about checking their resume and technical skills. It’s also about assessing their personality and determining if they’re a good fit for your company culture. By asking the right questions, you can determine a candidate’s personality traits, work style, and cultural fit. But how can it help you during the hiring process? Let’s take a look. 

Screen Out Candidates Who Won’t Fit In

One of the primary purposes of asking personality-based questions is to eliminate candidates who may not be a good fit for your company. By using these questions, you can assess whether a candidate’s personality aligns with your organization’s culture and the requirements of the job. For instance, if you’re hiring for a customer service role, you’ll want to ensure that the candidate is patient, personable, and possesses strong communication skills. This way, you can focus on selecting the candidates who are most likely to excel in the position and contribute positively to your company.

Get to Know the Person Behind the Resume

Another reason why personality interview questions are important is that they help you get to know the person behind the resume. A resume can only tell you so much about a person. With these questions, you can learn more about their work ethic, values, and goals.

Consider asking a question like, “How do you feel about taking risks?” This type of information cannot be found on a candidate’s resume but can be revealed through personality interview questions. By asking this question, you can gain insight into whether a candidate is risk-averse or willing to take chances. Having employees who are willing to take risks can be a valuable asset to any company, as they often bring innovative ideas and perspectives to the table. So don’t be afraid to ask these types of questions – they can lead to discovering the right candidate for the job!

Gauge How the Person Handles Pressure

Pressure is a part of any job. And it’s essential to know how a person handles pressure before you hire them. With these questions, you can find out if the person can stay calm under pressure and if they’re able to think clearly when faced with a difficult situation.

Questions like: “How do you deal with stress and pressure?” and “What are your thoughts on change?” can give you a good idea of how the person deals with difficult situations.

By asking these questions, you can better understand how the person copes with difficult situations and if they can adapt to change.

Find Out What Motivates the Candidate

Another reason for asking personality-based questions is to determine what motivates the candidate. With these questions, you can get an insight into what drives the person and makes them tick. This information can be beneficial when managing and motivating your employees – to help them unleash their full potential.

It Unravels a Candidate’s Thought Process and Emotional State

Lastly, personality-based questions help you understand a candidate’s thought process and emotional state. With these questions, you can find out how a person deals with difficult situations, their triggers, and how they interact with others. This information is precious when it comes to managing your employees.

A candidate having a job interview

It Helps Identifying Red Flags of a Candidate

Lastly, asking personality-based questions can help you identify a candidate’s red flags. For example, if a candidate has a history of violence, it’s best to know about it before you make a hire. With these questions, you can get fruitful insights into the person’s character and decide if they’re worth your time or not.

You will not want to hire candidates who demonstrate violence, constantly argue with teammates, or do not do their job correctly. Therefore, it is essential to ask personality interview questions to unravel these potential red flags from the very start.

Bottom Line

Asking personality interview questions is a great way to screen out candidates who won’t fit in, get to know the person behind the resume, gauge how the person handles pressure, find out what motivates the candidate, and identify red flags. So if you’re looking to hire top talent today, ask these 14 personality interview questions.

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Author

Reem Al-Tamimi

Reem Al-Tamimi

Turn top talent to employees fast

Hire, assess, onboard and manage top talent for every job. See how Elevatus streamlines everything; from acquire to new hire.

Request a demo