Our interview question of the week is to ask a candidate to “describe the steps you take to learn something new”.
Things to watch for:
- Does the candidate answer within the context of learning a concept or retaining facts? This gives you insight into the level of their big-picture thinking.
- Is the candidate able to describe actual steps they would take or do they answer with a general approach? This is a signal of their self-awareness and process-orientation. This question will likely merit some deeper probing on your part to understand more.
- How much ownness does the candidate take in the learning process? Watch for how much personal initiative the candidate includes in the process of learning something new. Do they do their own research or practice outside of the information that is presented to them? How do they deal with pushing through a struggle to learn some aspect? Do they ask for help or try to figure things out for themselves? What has to happen for them to ask for help? The answers to these follow-up questions will help you as a manager to know if your environment is a fit for the way they learn, how to structure their training, and monitor to make sure they are on track.
The information you gather in this area of conversation will be important throughout the employee life-cycle. Make sure this valuable information does not hide out in a file somewhere. Refer to it regularly so you can lead your employee most effectively.
Need interviewing advice? Book a complimentary 15-minute brainstorming session with us to help you get through a hurdle and be on your way to a great hire.
