Asking the following questions, during your next interview with the candidate, will help you to gain a more complete understanding of the applicant, BEFORE you make a hiring decision. Be sure to write down the candidate’s answers to each of the questions.

• Just about everyone has times when customers get to them. What kind of situations can cause you to feel this way?
  
  How do you usually respond (how would you respond) when this happens?
• How do you deal (how would you deal) with situations in which a customer is rude or abusive to you?
• Just about everyone has times when the pressure gets to them and they find it difficult to relax. What kind of situations can cause you to feel this way?
  
  What do you usually do when you feel this way?
• What kinds of things at work get you the most frustrated? When this happens, how do you deal with the situation? Please give a specific example where this happened.
• What is the most interesting/exciting job you have ever had? (Ask for details regarding who, where, when, and what made it so interesting)
• What kind of personal challenges do you look for in a job?

At the end of your interview with the applicant, be sure to ask the following:

I would like to speak with the person who was your supervisor at one or two of your previous jobs. Is that okay with you? (If not, ask for the reasons).

Be sure to get the name of each person, company name, and phone number.