As a leading staffing agency in Houston, TX, Murray Resources knows that in the recent past, there’s been a big focus on evaluating soft skills during the interview process. While that’s important, don’t also lose sight of assessing each candidate’s technical skills too. They can have a personality that meshes perfectly with your culture; but if they can’t do the job, then they’re not much use to you. That’s why it’s critically important to ask the right questions during the interview.

Before you create a list of questions, though, identify the specific skills each candidate should have. Also, think through the gamut of answers that would make the most sense for each question. To help you in the process, here are a few questions to consider:

• Describe the most recent project you worked on. What were your responsibilities with it?
• Describe the project you are most proud of. Why?
• Do you hold any technical certifications?
• How do you maintain your technical knowledge and skills?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses in terms of your abilities?
• What kinds of challenges do you think you’d encounter in this position?
• Tell me about the most difficult technical challenge you’ve encountered and how you resolved it.
• What technology is most important to you in your everyday work life?
• Have you ever been asked to do something you didn’t know how to do? What was your response?

When you’re asking these questions, it’s not only important to assess the answers, but also be on the lookout for certain red flags. For instance, if answers are vague or not clear, dig deeper and ask follow up questions. If the candidate still struggles to answer the question, it could be due to a lack of technical expertise.

Likewise, look for those candidates who are flexible and willing to learn from their successes and failures. As a leading staffing agency in Houston, TX, we know you don’t want those people who think they’re always right and rigid about how they approach every project. Those who are will be far less likely to collaborate well with your existing team.

Finally, during the interview process, evaluate not just what the candidate says in their answers, but how they say it. For instance, do they seem bored and tired, or full of energy, enthusiasm and passion for their field? If it’s the latter, you’re far more likely to hire a candidate who will become a committed team player.

Need more help interviewing and hiring top technical candidates?

Call the experts at Murray Resources. As a leading staffing agency in Houston, TX, we can get to work sourcing, screening and vetting high-quality candidates, all while you focus on other business priorities. Contact us today to learn more.