MightyRecruiterThere is no question about how important the interview process is when looking to hire an individual. You should always identify what attributes you are looking for and structure the interview to gauge these qualities in the candidate. If you are looking for team players, however, it may become complicated. Because interviews are, by their nature, one on one, how can you gain an understanding of how well an individual works with others? The following techniques to interview team players may yield more telling results than simply asking questions.
Look for an Active Team Player
First things first, what is your definition of a team player? There are many different ways one can interact with their coworkers, and many of these situations may be described as ïbeing a team playerï. In a business environment, many may say they are looking for someone who supports the company goals, but this is a very passive definition. When you interview team players, be on the lookout for those that are active about working with others, as this attribute is far more beneficial. They should not be afraid to offer feedback to peers, ask questions, provide solutions, collaborate, work with both vertical and horizontal colleagues, and consider team success. In short, the best team players incorporate teamwork into every aspect of how they do their jobs.
Know What Signals to Look for
As an interviewer, there are many elements you must keep track of simultaneously to be successful. If you are simply listening to what the interviewee is saying, you are going to miss a significant amount of information. This applies to all areas of the interview, but there are also aspects that relate specifically to teamwork. For example, many experts recommend paying special attention to how frequently the candidate uses the word ïIï, as opposed to words like ïweï and ïusï, when you interview team players. This will reveal their mindset. Even if they claim to be dedicated to working as a team, if they are consistently speaking about achievements that they had, without mentioning the contribution of anyone else, it is reasonable to question how much they consider their coworkers. The signs you should look for are not carved in stone; you are going to have to feel your way through each unique interview. As you ask questions, if you are paying attention, you will pick up on areas that they are uncomfortable and what aspects they are especially strong. How consistently are they making eye contact? Are they confident? Do they seem to be boastful, or do they acknowledge help they have received?
Questions to Ask
If you are prioritizing the collaboration element when you interview team players, there are certain types of questions that you should ask. There are some general questions that will provide insight into their mindset, but it also does not hurt to simply ask direct questions about how they work with others. To start, consider asking – What does being a good team player mean to you? – How does disagreement factor into working with others? – How do you adapt your strategy when moving from one team to another? Next, you should decide upon a set of questions that incorporate real-world situations. The work that will be done for the position you are trying to fill will be unique, so there are no preset questions that you can follow. Think about how employees will need to work together to accomplish the goals they will actually have when crafting these questions. These may be similar to – When starting a new project with a team, what questions do you immediately have for your coworkers? – How do you develop trust with a team you will never meet in person?
Investigate Their Work History
Finally, you should remember that any candidate’s work history will reveal their ability to work on a team. You can ask about their previous roles, and the roles of their coworkers, but remember that their interpretation of events may not be completely accurate. However, the way they speak about their previous projects will provide even more information about their mindset, especially if you can compare it to an objective account from one of their references. Any team player should have a healthy balance between giving credit to their coworkers and recognizing their own talent.
Learn More About Interviewing
Mighty Recruiter has more information about how to interview team players and other areas of managing a business. Be sure to take advantage of the large number of articles, on a variety of subjects, available on Mighty Recruiter.