Talent acquisition and bringing in right talent should be the #1 priority of every business. Hiring and retaining the right people is the only real sustainable competitive advantage of any company irrespective of the industry. The right people are the building blocks to an exceptional workplace.

Identifying and hiring stellar employees isn’t always easy. The interview is a pivotal aspect of any recruiting process. Interviews help to gauge the applicant’s ability to do the job and fit into the organization and culture. Finding the candidate who is the right fit for the job, figuring out if the job requirements match the candidate’s strengths and if the new job will keep him/her motivated to move onto the next level is critical.

Effective interview questions play a major role in the selection of the best executives for your business. Before formulating the questions decide on the qualities you expect of the ideal candidate. Put priority on his/her interpersonal strengths, values, attitude and aptitude. The work environment and challenges associated with the work can be a source to attract better candidates. Questions asked should pertain to what really motivates the prospective employee. The interviewer should try to understand what makes them happy and motivated to come to work. Ask open-ended questions so that you can gather enough information to determine the candidate’s “fit” within the department and company.

Below are the 10 questions you should ask a potential executive:

1. What are the greatest accomplishments of your career?
2. What are the reasons for your success?
3. What problems do you often struggle with?
4. What do you look for in the people you wish to hire?
5. Describe how you would or have led your team to become more effective?
6. How do you determine the untapped potential of your team?
7. Describe how you go about building strong relationships with your clients and co-workers.
8. How do you rate your verbal and written communication skills?
9. How did you exceed expectations in your current role?
10. What do you think about your work/life balance?

Asking the right interview questions will help you weed out the wrong people. Spending some quality time preparing for and conducting the interview will help you recruit the right people faster. Employees are the foundation of every successful company. Jim Collins rightly said that the starting point of excellence in management is to “get the right people on the bus, get the right people into the right seats on the bus, and then get the wrong people off the bus.”