Designers Share Their Go-To Interview Questions
Original article posted at Business of Home by Haley Chouinard.
NAME GAME
“At some point toward the end of an interview, I always say, ‘Tell me your favorite interior designers and a few things you love about their work.’ I am always surprised at how many candidates stumble over this question! If they don’t have any answer at all, that’s undoubtedly a red flag. I honestly don’t much care which designer they select, but listening to how they respond gives me the chance to clearly see if a candidate has passion for interior design and possesses the ability to think critically. This question can also really open the interview up for some lively design discussion, which is a central part of the work culture here at our firm.” —Duncan Hughes, Duncan Hughes Interiors, Boston
A FIRM IDEA
“Meshing well with the company culture is paramount to our process. Therefore, my go-to open-ended interview question is: ‘What sparked your interest in working with us?’ Their response tells me what resonates with them about our company and how they see themselves and their unique perspective and skills fitting into our team.” —Susan Currie, Susan Currie Design, New Orleans
SHOWTIME
“‘What are your favorite TV shows or movies?’ I ask this question during my client intake, too. I love shows and movies, and if I happen to find out that we have something in common, it tells me a lot about them in a quirky way, and we instantly find something that we can bond on that is not work-related.” —Rydhima Brar, R/terior Studio, Los Angele
VALUE EQUATION
“My go-to question is, ‘How do you think you can be of value to me?’ I like this question because it accomplishes two things: First, it makes them think outside of the business and automatically makes it personal, because I am asking specifically about myself. While I may have asked for help, I want to know how and if they really think they can help me. Second, it makes them think about their own value. I can typically get an idea of how honest, transparent or even confident they are.” —Donyea Tollie, Rejuvenation Home Studio, Bartow, Florida
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
“‘Can you tell me about your favorite project in your portfolio and the biggest obstacle you faced while working on it?’ This question is pretty simple, but it gives me an understanding of the potential new employee’s work ethic. By getting a sense of their favorite project, I’m also getting a sense of their personal aesthetic and a more specific indication of their ambitions. A lot of times, a newer designer’s portfolio is still developing, so I don’t judge the actual project. I focus more on how the candidate explains their process and the hurdles they overcame to get the project results. Whenever I’m going to add someone to my team, I want to be sure they’ll fit in with our culture [and] aesthetic and the level of detail my clients expect.” —Alyse Eisenberg, Studio Alyse, Charlotte, North Carolina