Key Questions That Recruiters Ask in First Round Interviews
Key Questions That Recruiters Ask in First Round Interviews
Categories of interview questions that recruiters and hiring managers ask are generally grouped into several categories: behavioral questions, traditional questions, “what if” queries, role-playing, motivational questions, and qualifications-based questions.
Common First Round Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself: The person interviewing you doesn’t want to know what you did last weekend, your favorite hobbies, or what hospital you were born in. They are looking for a quick snapshot of who you are, how you would fit into their culture, and what qualifies you for the position.
- Why did you leave your last job? The most important thing to remember when being asked this first round interview question is to NEVER speak negatively about a past employer or boss. Even if you worked in the most toxic environment ever and had the worst boss imaginable, refrain from ranting about the experience as doing so will likely derail your odds of getting the position.
- Why should we hire you? This question can be difficult, as you absolutely do not want to come across as arrogant or a “know it all.” You certainly want to be confident though, and ultimately convey that you are capable of delivering desired results and value to the organization while fitting in with the team and overall culture.
- What are your current responsibilities? ‘I ask this because I want to get a better understanding of what the candidate is currently doing and how that might compare to the job opportunity I have in mind for them,’ says Rob Paone who focuses on recruitment in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries as Founder & CEO of Proof of Talent.
- What’s your biggest accomplishment? Recruiters want to get a sense of how effective you’ve been in your recent roles before pitching you as a candidate to their clients. ‘When we ask this question, we want to probe the candidate’s track record for adding value and creating a positive impact,’ says Sarah Doughty, Director of Recruitment of Talentlab.
- Why are you interested in moving on? Recruiters want to understand your current situation—whether you’re content in your role or not. ‘If a job seeker can call out examples of what they like or dislike doing, I can try to customize the search based on their feedback,’ says Brandi Britton, district president at Robert Half in Los Angeles.
- What’s your ideal next role? Knowing exactly what you’re looking for helps recruiters understand whether your ambitions align with available opportunities. ‘We look for people to tell us their career plans match the position we have available before telling them about our career opportunity,’ says Kathleen Steffey, CEO of Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search.
- Common questions: ‘Why do you want this job?’; ‘What are your salary expectations?’; ‘What is your experience with sourcing candidates?’; ‘How do you build relationships with hiring managers?’; ‘Describe a challenging situation you faced in recruiting and how you overcame it’; ‘Are you currently interviewing with other companies?’; ‘Do you have any questions for me?’
Behavioral and Situational Questions
Here are some behavioral and situational questions that are among the many things recruiters ask candidates:
- Describe a conflict and how you resolved it.
- Do you like to work in groups or alone?
- What was your favorite/least favorite aspect of your most recent job role?
- Tell me about the worst manager you’ve worked with. How did you handle him/her?
- What would you do if you were completing a project with a tight deadline and realized you’d made a mistake early in the process, requiring you to start over?
Preparing for a first-round interview? This guide offers essential questions to expect, alongside tips for answering them effectively. Whether you’re a candidate gearing up for a screening or a recruiter looking to refine your interview process, these questions will set the stage for a successful hiring journey.
The first round interview is typically viewed as an introductory conversation to determine that you have the basic skills and qualifications for the role and can fit in with the team and company culture.
How to Prepare for Your First Round Interview with a Recruiter
Your first job interview will no doubt be your most challenging. However, making sure you ace it is as simple as putting in a little time and practice. Whether you’re actively preparing for your first interview, studying up before starting your job search, or just curious about what to expect throughout the hiring process, these tips can help.
- Prepare yourself and your space: A lot of job interviews these days happen over video. Virtual job interviews can be great — you can do an interview in a space you’re comfortable in with a company hundreds of miles away. However, it does put the pressure on you to ensure your space, environment, and technology are ready for a great interview.
- Practice your answers to common interview questions: It’s natural to worry about how you’ll answer an interviewer’s questions, especially during your first interview. The only way to address these worries is to prepare and practice.
- Think about which questions you’ll ask: You’ve heard it a million times — always have questions prepared to ask at the end of a job interview. This is one of the best chances you’ll have to figure out if the company you’re interviewing with is actually the right fit for you. Pick a few questions to have in your back pocket after a job interview.
- Reflect after the interview: After a job interview, it’s important to reflect on how you answered the hiring manager’s questions, where you have room to improve, and what you think about the company given their responses to your questions. Sending a thank you note after your interview is also crucial.
- Gather information before the interview: When scheduling your interview with a recruiter, make sure to collect as much information as possible. Reviewing the job description of the position you applied for can help identify important information the company might look for in a candidate. Think about your job history and draft a few questions. Additionally, dressing professionally is essential; recruiters need to follow a strict schedule. Don’t make the mistake of thinking a recruiter interview is not a “real interview” for the job.
- Communicate effectively: Tell them about yourself and support your claims. Choose your words wisely and be ready to ask questions. Saving negotiations for later is important, and closing strong will leave a great impression. Having a notepad readily available can also help you stay organized during the conversation.
Questions You Should Ask Your Recruiter in a First Round Interview
Questions to Ask Your Recruiter in a First Round Interview:
- About the Recruitment Process:
- What is the biggest recruitment challenge this company is facing?
- Which ATS systems and other recruitment technologies does your company use?
- What metrics do you use to gauge a recruiter’s success in the role?
- How many jobs will this position need to fill each month? Of those, how many are specialty or involve hard-to-find skill sets?
- What do your most successful recruiters have in common?
- About the Role:
- What growth opportunities are available to me at this company?
- Is the company experiencing any challenges I should know about?
- Take the opportunity to clarify the salary range, job details, culture, and other information to broaden your understanding of the position.
- About the Recruiter’s Experience and Strategies:
- What strategies do you use to source and attract top talent?
- Describe your experience with using applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- How do you ensure that the recruitment process is fair and unbiased?
- What methods do you use to evaluate candidates’ qualifications?
- How do you handle difficult conversations with potential candidates?
- What techniques do you use to assess cultural fit during the interview process?
- Are you familiar with any diversity recruiting initiatives or programs?
- Tell me about a time when you had to fill an urgent vacancy in a short amount of time.
- Describe your experience with onboarding new hires.
- How do you stay informed about industry trends and developments to make informed decisions as a recruiter?
- General Preparation Tip:
- A recruiter will typically give you time to ask questions toward the end of a call. It’s good to get ready for an interview by preparing your answer for questions you’re likely to encounter.
