5 questions HR leaders would always ask job candidates

From asking about career goals to assessing for attitude, respected HR leaders in Thailand give us a glimpse into how they make their hiring decisions.

Interviews can make or break hiring decisions, but what truly sets great candidates apart? In recent conversations, Aditi Sharma Kalra and Priya Sunil asked HR leaders across Thailand to share the one question they always ask every candidate, to determine if they are a right-fit for the team.

Here's what they had to share.

Watcharapong Soottiard, Country HR Lead, HP, Thailand

The one question I must ask every candidate is, "How do you adapt and prepare yourselves for the agile, dynamic, and fast-changing world?"

We want people who are proactive, not passive. We want them to learn!

Ahmad Rashid, Head of People, Chillchat

I would ask every candidate, "What are the career goals you have set for yourself?"

It allows me to understand the trajectory they want to take in their career, and assess if it aligns with the growth that we as a company have planned for this role. It allows us to see if we have the training & resources for this role.

Pokpong Pathamasoonthorn, Country HR Lead and People Partner, Mekong Area, Maersk Thailand

My question would be, "How do you define your success in one word and why?"

I want to know their key values and what they are looking for, so that we can understand more about their outlook, attitude, and what they prioritise.

Piengchit Sriprasart, Chief People & Culture and Corporate Affairs Officer, Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand)

I usually ask them to share an example of a positive attitude that they always demonstrate during tough times. We can never fully know a person's attitude during the interviews, so we need to know how they would be when in tough situations, by presenting them with scenarios to respond to.

It is important to hire for attitude — there is no right or wrong in their answers, but what is key is how we interpret their attitude.

Nithis Ben-Ar-Lee, Cluster Director of Human Resources, Compass Hospitality

Instead of a specific question, I gauge for attitude, which is the most important thing in the hospitality industry. Skills, experience, and knowledge can be learnt, not attitude. So that is what I would focus on. 

Photos: Provided