September 17, 2019


Companies like Apple, Amazon and Netflix dominate today’s business headlines with stories of the next best tech gadget and indestructible business models, but more and more these companies are innovating the world of HR, too. If the topic isn’t about groundbreaking benefits like unlimited paid parental leave and on-site medical staff, it’s about the hiring processes that invite such talented candidates to their companies. A resume can give you a skill set, but the interview is the time for managers to dig deep for cultural fit. Here are nine of the best interview questions to ask candidates being asked by today’s trailblazing giants to help improve the hiring process.

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CC-Click-ToTweetBird-01.pngInterview questions asked by Apple, @amazon and @netflix you should be using:

The Apple Approach

1. “Tell me something that you have done in your life which you are particularly proud of.”

What’s unique about this question is it gives candidates free reign to answer on any topic, whether it’s personal or professional. Managers can get a peek at what kind of work or activities fulfills this person and why and maybe even identify any potential talents.

2. “What was your best day in the last 4 years? What was your worst?”

This question dives into deep motivators from one end of the spectrum to the other. Depending on how a candidate answers, an interviewer may have the opportunity to dig more for some background on what it is that makes this person tick. Alternatively, it could just as well be a great opportunity to learn some personal details about the candidate.

3. “Tell me about something you failed at and what you learned from it.”

Asking candidates this question gives interviewers the chance to see what kind of struggles this person had to overcome and how they did it. If the candidate resorts to blaming others for their mistakes or making negative remarks about their previous employers, that’s likely a red flag for toxic behavior.


CC-Click-ToTweetBird-01.png Would you/Have you ever use(d) any of these interview questions to recruit new employees?


Download: Spring Cleaning Your Hiring Process Checklist

The Amazon Way

4. “Why do you think you are a good fit for this position?”

This question is simple and to the point, but can take the interview in many different directions. If a candidate explains how their own work ethic and aspirations align with the company’s culture, this person clearly has done their research. However, if they simply recite what’s on their resume, this could just be a job to them, which may or may not identify with the company culture.

5. “Tell me about a project you started that, halfway through, you realized you made the wrong decision.”

Asking the candidate to admit to a significant mistake is going to give them the chance to spin a negative into a positive. The interviewer might get a glimpse at their level of humility as well as how they handle mistakes and adapt to quick changes.

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6. “Give me a time where you took a calculated risk and how was it successful?”

Interviewers can use this question to feel out how confident the candidate is in making hard decisions and if those decisions paid off for them in the past. This is a great question to ask for gauging potential leadership skills.

Read 6 Must-Haves for Successful Goal Alignment

The Netflix Bundle

7. “What would one of your colleagues say is your biggest weakness?”

Forcing candidates to admit to weakness that may or may not impact their chances of getting the job is bold, but also a great way to learn about their integrity and self-awareness. Interviewers can use this to identify areas of concern that hopefully can be overlooked or easily resolved with some training.

8. “What is one thing you would change to make the company more successful?”

This question invites the candidate to point out something wrong with how the company currently operates. It puts the candidate in a tough position, but also gives them a chance to show the company how much research they’ve done and what kinds of ideas they can bring to the table.

9. “What is one thing you regret most about your past job?”

Asking candidates to share their professional regrets gives interviewers the chance to really listen for red flags and to also gain some insight into what things about the job possible caused them to quit. Worthy candidates will likely find a way to end on a positive note. For example, a candidate who might regret staying in a position they weren’t happy in might spin it by detailing all the skills they picked up in the process, despite their dissatisfaction.


CC-Click-ToTweetBird-01.pngWould you ever use any of these bold questions @netflix uses during interviews?


If we’ve learned anything from these successful companies, it’s they know how to hire top talent. The best interview questions to ask candidates don’t have to be complex or deceptive. Using these practical interview questions, any business can work to improve the hiring process and hire for cultural fit like Apple, Amazon and Netflix do.

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Sara Pollock
Sara Pollock
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As the head of a department in the midst of a sustained period of rapid growth, Sara has spent thousands of hours interviewing, hiring, onboarding and assessing employees and candidates. She is passionate about sharing the best practices she has learned from both successes and failures in talent acquisition and management.

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