The clear majority of interviewers have a bank of “go to” questions that they ask each candidate at interview. I know I do. But, it’s important to ensure that each question you ask has an aim in mind. The aim of the interview is to see whether the candidate would be a good cultural fit for the dental office and someone who can do the job with their level of expertise and skill. Here are some questions that we would recommend that you ask when completing dental jobs interviews.
Interview Question: What is your greatest achievement at work?
Goal: The answer the candidate provides will give you as the interviewer an idea on what the candidate believes to be important. It will also give the interviewee a chance to examine the level of skill that they have. A good supplementary or follow up question is to ask the candidate to list their values.
Interview Question: What would be the ideal work environment in which you will most effective at working in?
Goal: This question will provide the interviewer with a good idea of whether the candidate will be a good cultural fit for the dental office. If the response they provide is vastly different from what you can offer them, then there is a chance they would be a poor fit for the position.
Interview Question: Describe an occasion where you had to overcome a major obstacle that stood in the way of you accomplishing a goal or commitment.
Goal: The answer the candidate provides for this question will provide an idea of the candidate’s past performance in previous positions they have held within the industry. If they aren’t able to describe a problem, this should serve as a warning signal. Everyone has obstacles and problems, and it’s important to be self-analytical to improve for the future.
Interview Question: Why did you apply for this job?
Goal: If the general feeling that you get is that they want to use your position as a stepping stone to bigger and better things, then stay well clear. They could stay for maybe 2 years and you will have invested time and money into training them, only for them to take their new skills elsewhere.
Interview Question: Why are you leaving your previous job?
Goal: If it was to do with a falling out with the previous employer, they may be quite confrontational which may not be the best quality to have in the dental office. The quality of the response will give you an understanding of the candidate’s character and values.
Interview Question: Name the three most important skills you bring to the dental office?
Goal: The candidate will be able to list their own skills and you can see if this is backed up in their work experience and skill set. It will give you a good idea as to whether they could fit into the dental office.
For more interview questions to ask, check out https://www.dentreps.com/blog/10-best-interview-questions-ask/.
