6 interview Question to test your personality

Employers today aren't only looking for candidates with the right set of technical skills and years of experience under their belt. They want to hire those who also have something unique to offer — like a great personality or a strong set of soft skills.

"In fact, if they find a candidate who has less experience than their competition, but has stronger growth potential and seems to be a better cultural fit, the employer may feel encouraged to hire that person," says Edward Fleischman, chief executive officer of Execu Search, a full-service recruitment, temporary staffing, and retained search firm.

In an effort to find new hires who are great cultural fits, employers are putting more emphasis on soft skills, or intangible qualities, "that are not always apparent on a piece of paper," he says. "Though the specific personality traits employers are looking for are subjective to the role and the organization, some qualities that are a good indication of success in a role include organizational and communication skills, great team player, strong leadership skills, an ability to think on your feet, drive, and initiative."

To figure out if candidates possess the right soft skills or personality fit, employers often ask these interview questions.

1.'IF YOUR BEST FRIEND WAS SITTING HERE, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING YOUR FRIEND?'

• The purpose of this question is to bring out a sense of honesty and candor in a candidate. "Learning about what makes an applicant a good friend allows employers to get a better feel for whether or not they would fit in with the company culture," Fleischman says.

2.'IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE WAY YOU APPROACH CHALLENGES, WHAT WOULD IT BE?'

• This question, which puts candidates on the spot, allows hiring managers to evaluate a candidate's self-awareness and ability to admit there are some aspects of their professional life they would like to improve, Fleischman explains.

3. 'WHAT DRIVES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE?'

• Employers ask this question to gain insight into what motivates a candidate both in their career and as a potential employee.

• "As cultural fit becomes more important to employers and their business as a whole, many look for candidates whose goals align with theirs, and asking this question allows them to assess what exactly a candidate's goals are," Fleischman says.

4.'WHAT TYPES OF HOBBIES DO YOU ENJOY OUTSIDE OF WORK?'

• Just like learning about what drives someone in their personal life, discovering how someone spends their time outside of work and what specific activities they enjoy and invest in can give an interesting look into their personality, Fleischman explains.
• In addition, hobbies can translate into specific soft and hard skills that can be applicable to many jobs, and employers are often interested in learning what a candidate has to offer outside their résumé's "skills" section.

5. 'IF YOU COULD MEET A CELEBRITY, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?'

• Many people admire certain celebrities and public figures. Learning about who a candidate would be most excited to meet offers another interesting viewpoint into their personality and their values — two important factors of cultural fit.

6. 'HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED ON A SPORTS TEAM?'

• The answer to this question can reveal personality traits that are important to certain companies, depending on the nature of their business. "For example, a former athlete could be a great team player or, depending on the sport or position they played, may thrive best while working on their own," Fleischman explains.
• Sometimes, athletes (current or former) possess a competitive nature, which can be a positive trait in some lines of business and a negative one in others.