When Character Counts: Seven Traits and Fifteen Interview Questions That Will Help You Hire Worthy Employees

Character Trait: Truthfulness

Is there anything wrong with telling a caller, vendor, or someone asking for a contribution that someone is not in, even if he or she is?
Has a former boss ever asked you to tell a white lie? How did you handle it?
Character Trait: Work Ethic

Could you define for me what you believe doing a good job is? A great job?
In your last position, what particular task or project do you believe you did a great job with? Be specific. Explain why you feel it was great.

Character Trait: Teachability

Please name for me some of the books, CDs, or DVDs you have in your personal development library at home.

What is the last serious book you read? What did you like best about it? What have you applied or changed as a result of reading it?

Character Trait: Keeping Commitments

Under what circumstances is it acceptable to not keep a commitment or to not do what you said you would do?

What is the last commitment you failed to keep? Why?

Character Trait: A Forgiving Spirit

What is the hardest thing you have had to forgive in the workplace?

How did you handle it? Are you still dealing with it?

Character Trait: Timeliness and Meeting Deadlines

When was the last time you were late to anything? Why? How late were you? How did you handle it?

Here is a famous quote: “Being late is the arrogant choice.” Do you agree, or do you feel it is too harsh and judgmental? Do you believe that being late is a sign of arrogance?

Have you ever missed a work-related deadline? Tell me about it.

Character Trait: Acceptance of Responsibility

You have obviously accomplished a lot in your life. If you had to list three factors that have prevented you from being even further along than you are now, what are they? (Note: Do your interviewees accept responsibility by blaming their own internal decisions, or do they shift blame to outside conditions?)

We expect anyone working for us to take some risks, seize the initiative, and make mistakes from time to time. Describe for me some of the bigger mistakes you have made in past jobs and what you learned from them.