Before reading consider downloading the INTERVIEW GUIDE and the INTERVIEW TEMPLATE
When it comes to job interviews being prepared is essential. This doesn’t just apply to the candidate – it’s equally important for you as the interviewer. The interview is your chance to determine whether the applicant is a good fit for the position, your team, and the company in general. However, the information you’re looking for is usually only revealed if you know the right questions to ask.
Interview questions typically fall into one of three categories; General, Behavioral, and Situational.
General questions help form an idea of the potential employee and who they may be.
General questions to consider:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What is your greatest strength/weakness?
- What are your long-term goals?
- What motivates you?
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
- What makes a productive work environment?
- What’s your dream job?
- Why should we hire you?
- Would you describe yourself as a sociable person?
- What do you think makes Dunkin different from the competition?
Avoid questions involving age, race, ethnicity, color, gender or sex, country of national origin or birthplace, religion, disability, and marital or family status or pregnancy. Chances are these questions are illegal to be asking.
Some examples of questions to avoid:
- Are you Hispanic?
- Do you go to church?
- How much do you weigh?
- How old are you?
- What country are you from?
- Are you pregnant?
- How many children do you have?
- Are you married?
- What is your military status?
Consider rephrasing questions that may lead to an answer that may disclose protected information. For example, if you are worried about the potential employee being able to get to work instead of asking them if they own a car try one of these options:
- “What would your previous supervisors/teachers say about your attendance and punctuality?”
- “The shift(s) we are hiring for is (time) to (time), (day) to (day). Would you be available for this time period?”
In best practices it is better to move onto a new question if you feel that disclose information may be shared. An example of this would be:
Q: Can you tell me why you left/leaving your last/current job?”
A: “For personal reasons”
This would be a good time to move onto a new question. Do not ask them to elaborate on their response.
It is okay if the interviewee doesn’t understand a question. If you find that to be the case try to reword the question in a different way. Everyone learns and understands things differently especially when nervous.
Lastly, Dunkin’ should be a fun place to work. Here are some bonus ice-breaker questions to consider:
- What do you know about Dunkin’?
- Do you like coffee?
- Do you have a favorite donut?
- Do you like Sprinkles/Jimmies?
- What flavor Coolatta would you be? Why?
