13 interview questions hiring managers ask to test your personality

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

In an effort to find new hires that are great cultural fits, employers are putting more emphasis on soft skills, like organization, communication, leadership, initiatives, and the ability to think your feet.

To figure out if candidates possess the soft skills or personality fit that they are looking for, employers will ask questions like the ones outlined below.

Jacquelyn Smith contributed to a previous version of this article.

What was the last new task or skill you learned, and how did you go about it?

"Employers ask this question to evaluate how a candidate views their own professional development,"

He recommended answering with details on how you learn new skills. Emphasize that you're curious and continually learning new things about your profession.

Tell me about a time that you did more than what was required on the job

Your interviewer wants to make sure that you're committed to excelling.

So, Fleischman said, "give an example of a time where you went above and beyond the call of duty. This will also help show that you care about the quality of your work."

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," said.

If you could change one thing about the way you approach challenges, what would it be?

This question puts candidates on the spot, and 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, said.

"Since humility is an important quality to many employers, a response to this question is something they listen closely to," he added.

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

This inquiry is a favorite amongst hiring managers because it allows them to not only evaluate how quickly someone can think on their feet, but it also requires candidates to exercise some degree of creativity in a relatively short amount of time, said.

These are two skills that can be applied to solving almost any business challenge.

What has the most satisfying moment in your life been?

When employers ask this question, they are looking to see what motivates a candidate and whether or not their values fit into the company culture, said.

How would your last supervisor describe you in three words?

"This inquiry gives the employer a glimpse into how others view a candidate's professional value," said.

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 said.

What drives you in your personal life?

On a similar note, this question aims to delve into a candidate's personality and better assess their cultural fit.

"By developing a better understanding of a job seeker's non-work life, and by learning about what drives them personally, an employer can get a better grasp of the type of personality they'd be bringing to the company," said.

And, painting a picture of a candidate's personal goals can help an employer better understand how motivated they are in general.

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 said.

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 resume's "skills" section.

Can you take me through a scenario at work that was particularly stressful for you, and how you handled it?

This question shows not only the candidate's ability to think on their feet, but also their ability to be diplomatic, Fleischman said.

For example, if the stressful situation was due to someone else's errors, was the candidate able to speak about it in a professional, tactful way?

Or, if the stressful situation was due to their own error, it shows a great deal about a candidate if they can take responsibility for it in their explanation.

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.

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 said.

Athletes often have a competitive nature, which can be good or bad.

13 interview questions hiring managers ask to test your personality

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