Interview Questions asked to Candidates

I have been asked in interviews questions such as

Q What will you do if you can't do something or solve a problem?
A Ask my superior for guidance

Q If you are getting abuse what do you do?
A try to stay calm and reasurren the client etc.

 

Useful questions I ask (and what I'm thinking when I ask it):

1. What training methods do you prefer to use? Books? CBTs? Practice exams? Live classroom training? (Am I going to be stuck losing you for a week or more while you attend an expensive training session?)
2. What are your favorite training materials? (Are you a dumper?)
3. How does your previous experience relate to this job's requirements? (Do you have experience that is relevant to what you'll be doing?)
4. What do you think would be the most challenging part about this job? (What might you potentially have problems with?)
5. Do you work better in a team environment or on your own? (Tell me what makes you tick... or, potentially, are you are just telling me what you think I want to hear).
6. How do you deal with stress? (Again, tell me what makes you tick... or, potentially, are you are just telling me what you think I want to hear).
7. Give me an example of when you went above-and-beyond the call of duty. (Show me your initiative.)
8. What technologies would you enjoy working with, given the opportunity? (What do you really enjoy and where are you possibly headed - much better than the "5-year question", IMO)
9. What's your favorite color? (Red... no, blue... just kidding! just kidding!)

Speaking of kidding...

We once had an editor interview with us. He was not a tech... he was a grammar-type dude. But he knew he was interviewing for a editor position with a technical training company. We were relatively sure we were going to hire him... so during the interview, straight-man Josh slid a piece of paper towards the candidate and asks him, "Explain TCP/IP subnetting to us."

<one second... he stares at the piece of paper...>

<two seconds... a bead of sweat rolls off his forehead...>

"Just kidding," Josh said, as he slid the paper back towards himself.

Dude! Whew! Relieved, the candidate laughed at our "interview prank".

I mean... you'd expect something like that from me... but Josh is the stable one, right?

THAT is performing under pressure - a VERY useful skill. And yes, he got the job.