Justin Cobb Looks at Interview Questions for Recruitment Success

When a business first starts, the founding entrepreneur will often do all the jobs themselves, from planning and design to sales and fulfilment. This is fine in the early days, but as a business grows, it becomes important to have people to take on some of the work and help drive the company forwards. A recent article in Entrepreneur magazine gave some helpful tips on how to hire superstars. Here, Justin Cobb reviews the article, and looks at how vital the recruitment process is.

“A business is only as good as the people who work for it, so it’s essential that recruitment gets the care and attention it deserves”, said entrepreneur Justin Cobb. “When you first recruit, remember that these people are the ones who are going to grow your business, and help it realise the success you’ve dreamed of. Asking the right interview questions can help you make the right hiring choices, leading to a brighter future.”

The article is based upon the experiences of leading entrepreneur Mitchell Harper, co-founder of Bigcommerce. His main tip when it comes to recruiting is simple: never hire someone because they’re ‘good enough’, wait for the best. Average employees will lead to an average business, when you should really be looking to hire superstars. One powerful question to find the perfect employee is two pronged: what do you like about your business and how would you change what you don’t like? Look for people who focus on the solution rather than the problem, and avoid those who are afraid to rock the boat.

Another interesting question within the article is: what book are you reading? Passionate people with an aptitude for business will read books, as part of their constant drive to improve and educate themselves. Interviewees who are reading self-help, business, or educational books get a big tick. If you’re recruiting sales people, tell them that you’re not sure if they’re a good fit for the company, even if it’s not true. This allows you to see how they overcome objections, and how they deal with stressful situations.

“The interview questions that Mitchell Harper proposes really help you find out about the candidate, and what makes them tick”, said Justin Cobb. “That’s essential if you want to hire a superstar, and you should do. Never go by what’s on their CV or application, take the effort to get to know them a little better. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time with them.”

Justin Cobb is himself a successful entrepreneur. His mentoring skills have proved invaluable to businesses throughout the UK, Europe and the United States.