7 Interview Questions To Help You Hire Superstars Never hire someone who is just 'good enough.'
By Mitchell Harper Edited by Dan Bova
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Whether you're a two person startup still operating in your garage or a 500-person corporation, one thing should remain consistent: your focus on hiring superstars.
When my co-founder Eddie Machaalani and I started our commerce platform company, we made a pact to personally interview the first 100 people we hired. It was hard, but we stuck to it and spoke to every person who joined our team during that two-year period.
Through that process, we created a foundation of amazing talent and set the bar high for new employees and hiring managers who still adhere to our most important rule about recruitment: never hire someone who is "good enough;" always wait for the best. Waiting to hire the right person for a role is painful, but will save you time, money and your sanity in the long run. They are out there and you will find them.
More than anything else, hiring the right people can determine the destiny of your business. Hire superstars and they'll get behind your vision and make it a reality. Hire the wrong people and you'll find that as your business grows, you'll have a culture of average performers who watch the clock and aren't motivated nearly as much as you are.
So, how do you ensure you hire the right people? Ask these seven questions:
1. What do you like about our business? How would you change what you don't like?
This question does two things. First, it gives you insight into how a candidate will verbalize something they don't like. Will they talk about the problem and then immediately suggest a solution, or will they tell you that your business is perfect when in reality, it probably isn't? Look for people who talk 5 percent about the problem and 95 percent about the solution.
Related: 6 Tips for Hiring at Your Small Business
By asking how they'd change what they don't like, you get a chance to hear how they'd go about solving problems. For example, if they say your customer service stinks but can't suggest even a basic idea to fix it, what chance do they have of fixing problems when they're working for you? Will they just give up and move on to something else? Probably. The best employees solve problems fast and on their own.
2. Which book are you currently reading?
Passionate people tend to read books or listen to audio books to improve their skills. Whether the books are specific to a skill such as sales and marketing or they're reading a book focused on self-development doesn't matter, they are all good signs.
If they're reading a fiction book and haven't read an educational book for a while, that's a red flag to me. Superstars are always looking to better themselves, and the smartest people I know are always learning and absorbing new information.
3. Tell me about a problem you were tasked with solving in your current job. How did you fix it?
Again, this surfaces their problem solving and creative thinking skills or lack thereof. Did they have a thoughtful approach to solving the problem or did they pass it on to someone else?
4. What's the one thing you've accomplished in your career that you're most proud of?
This gives you insight into what makes them tick and also lets you assess how they define success. If, for example, they worked at their previous company for 12 years and their biggest accomplishment was beating their sales target in a single quarter, they may not be a superstar.
On the other hand, if they were promoted five times in their previous role during a two-year period, then you may have a superstar on your hands.
Related: 7 Traits of Truly Sensational Startup Employees
5. Have you played any team sports before?
People who play team sports such as basketball, soccer and rowing are driven, focused on achieving goals and physically fit, which helps keep their mind in peak condition. Generally, they will also be great communicators, cope well under pressure and perform well during team events.
6. What do you do for fun?
Balance is an important part of success, and I've found that superstars strive to do well in most, if not all, areas of their life including physical fitness, relationships contribution and learning.
As an example, if someone hits the gym three days a week, volunteers on Saturdays and is learning how to play the piano "just for fun," then it's fair to say they value achievement, goal setting and are continually looking to improve themselves. This will translate into their job.
7. 'I'm not sure you're a fit for the role…'
This one works best when you're hiring people with strong personalities that need to push through constantly hearing "no," such as for sales reps or sales leaders, and it's more of a comment than a question. By simply making this statement, they can do one of three things. They can ignore you and skip over the comment. They can agree and try to move on. Or, they can try to sell you on the benefits of bringing them into your business, specifically focusing on the main reasons you can't afford not to hire them.
These questions aren't a silver bullet for hiring superstars, but they've allowed me to better decide between people who will and won't be a fit in the business, and their ability to achieve success in their role.
Outside of asking questions, never overlook your gut feel during an interview. If something doesn't feel right or you're not absolutely certain about hiring someone, then say no -- every time.
It will take longer to hire the right person, but you want to build a company full of people that are right for their roles, instead of people that came along at the right time.
