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Read time: 2 mins
Does this scenario sound familiar?
You’re hiring for a role you really need to fill.
And you’ve got this candidate sitting across from you who’s confident, presents well, and says all the right things…
But how do you really know if they’ll be great in the role?
Let’s be real - interviewing can feel like a minefield sometimes.
Making the wrong hiring choice can blow up on you, creating a costly mess.
To avoid this, and more reliably hire great people, a good place to start is simply by asking better interview questions.
With this in mind, today we’re sharing 3 examples of great interview questions from Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos to help you navigate the interview minefield successfully.
3 QUESTIONS TO FIND THE RIGHT NEW HIRE
1. The ‘Toughest Problem’ Question
This one's from Elon Musk:
“Tell me about the toughest problem you dealt with—and how you dealt with it—at your previous company?”
Why it's a great question:
- It filters out candidates who haven’t really done much. If they can’t describe a real problem or struggle, they probably haven’t been in the trenches.
- You can dig into the details. If they were genuinely involved, they’ll know the ins and outs of their approach and you can really understand what they know, how they think, and how they work.
2. The ‘Why’ Question
Dig a little deeper with this one from Steve Jobs:
“Why are you here?”
Why it's a great question:
- It reveals their motivation. What are they really after? Money? Status? Or something deeper?
- It provides insight into their thought process. Are they passionate about the company or just trying to get a job?
3. The ‘Lucky’ Question:
Try out this one from Jeff Bezos:
“Do you consider yourself a lucky person?”
Why it's a great question:
- It helps identify optimists. Candidates who believe they create their own luck often show a resilient, problem-solving mindset.
- It reveals humility and perspective. How they view their success (and failures) can tell you a lot about their personality and fit.
These questions aren’t just about the answers — they’re about how the candidate thinks, how they approach challenges, and what kind of mindset they bring to the table.
Great questions like these can both attract the right talent AND eliminate those who don’t align with you or your business.
It’s all about digging deeper than the polished exterior and finding out what your candidates are truly made of.
Choose your questions wisely — after all, your talent is your most valuable asset.
And if you need help further refining your hiring process, reach out to us - we’re happy to help!
Speak soon,
Lynne & Steve
TLDR:
- Interviews are tricky, and it's hard to know who's truly great just from a conversation.
- Here are key interview questions from Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos that can help:
- “Tell me about the toughest problem you dealt with—and how you dealt with it.”
- “Why are you here?”
- “Do you consider yourself a lucky person?”
- These questions help uncover mindset, motivation, and problem-solving abilities.
- Great questions will attract the right candidates and filter out the wrong ones.
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