According to a recent article in CNN Money, hiring managers are getting quite creative with the questions they ask applicants, and dentists can apply these same techniques when hiring for their team.
In an article titled “Oddball Hiring Techniques,” hiring managers discuss how they have steered clear of typical interview questions such as, “Where do you see yourself in five years.” Easy-to-anticipate questions do little to show how a candidate thinks through a tough problem.
It is reported that Goldman Sachs stokes the cognitive flames by asking the following: “If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?” Goldman wants to assess a candidate’s creativity.
A popcorn franchise in California asks job applicants, “How would you grab customers’ attention in order to give them popcorn samples?” Then they have candidates perform while the hiring managers grade them on their innovative approach.
Finally, a babysitting company in New York asks potential babysitters, “If a child threw a ball at your face, how would you respond?” The company wants to see how well candidates think on their feet, which is invaluable when working with children.
All of these questions have parallels for dentistry. Instead of asking the stock questions most people anticipate, challenge the hygienist, assistant, or front office applicant with questions that showcase problem solving skills. Ask a question that causes the applicant to demonstrate creativity or assertiveness.
If you are eager to recruit the best fit for your practice, revisit how you interview. To build a great team, you need to ask the right questions.
Visit our practice management consulting page to see how we can help you fine-tune your dental team.