@Shilpan — very good point! There’s a lot to be said for confidence. I’ve seen a high correlation between confidence and competence over time. If somebody shows confidence in why they think they’re the best for the job, this can be very telling. More importantly, if somebody is not confident in their own ability, why should I be?

All three are great. You can add one more question,

Why you think you are the best person for this job?

This makes them speak from their heart. While they speak, seeing their facial expressions and body language can reveal great deal about their confidence and personality.

Shilpan

When taking on a new business partner I ask myself if this is a person I would like to go on vacation with:~)

You reminded me that the most important thing to try and tease out in an interview is values.

Conflict in styles is OK, but conflict in values is tough.

These are great questions, as are the variations. I think it’s always best to ask open ended questions.

Asking someone what their weaknesses are, can be an eyeopener (if they are being honest).

I’ve also found that hearing them out, can reveal a lot. A lot of times without knowing they begin to show their true personality and give you more information than your originally asked for. If someone starts telling me stories about their previous company (and I feel the information should have been kept confidential), a red flag goes up, and I know they have “loose lips”.

We have had past employees who gave us all of the right answers, but when it came time to work, they didn’t walk their talk. When that happens, it’s best to cut the cord and send them on their way.