Good Icebreaker Interview Questions for Building Rapport

Icebreakers may not be necessary but can be beneficial to both you and the interviewee. Not only will it help set the tone for the interview but make your candidates feel more at ease. Asking icebreaker questions will also allow you to know jobseekers’ personalities on a more relaxed and less guarded level—possibly allowing more confident and honest responses.

Though icebreakers may seem like small talk, it’s not to say you can ask randomly about anything under the sun. Other than easing your candidate’s anxiety, good icebreaker questions should help you obtain information crucial to the role you are trying to fill in. It’s also an excellent way to subtly show your Employee Value Proposition to the candidate.

Here are six sample icebreaker interview questions that would help reveal if your candidate is the right fit for the job

Travel and long commutes can be exhausting. No matter how committed your candidate is, their distance may be something your company should consider for your employees’ overall well-being. This can also be a contributing factor when it comes to employee retention. Should they be interested and if you find them to be a competent addition to the team, you may follow up to ask how they plan to get to and from the office on regular work days.

This question can help reveal your candidate’s career goals or aspirations and help you determine if the role and your company will suit him/her as well.

Having reliable knowledge and genuine passion for what the company does is a plus point for any jobseeker. If they truly know about your products and services and can give honest and well-thought-out feedback when asked, they can be a helpful addition to the organisation.

This is an excellent opportunity to gauge what your candidate is most interested in and if it aligns with the position at hand. It will also help reveal what they value in their job and what motivates them to succeed.

This will help you get a glimpse of the things they are passionate about, including advocacies they might have. In addition, this will also speak more of someone’s creativity and other skills, talents, or values worth knowing that may be essential for the role being filled.

Consider asking this question to know how and what contributions a jobseeker values in his roles and the workplace.

Hiring a new employee is no easy feat. Aside from looking for someone who has the skills to lead the company, you would want someone whose goals align with that of the company and would make for a loyal employee. By asking the right interview questions, you ensure that you’re hiring the right person who will help your organisation flourish, with professionally satisfied employees.