Are You Asking the Right Interview Questions? Here Are the 3 Types of Questions You Must Ask

Hello and welcome to Episode 324 of The People Powered Business Podcast.

Are your interviews actually helping you hire the right person… or are you accidentally feeding candidates the exact answers you want to hear?

If you've ever walked away from an interview thinking someone was perfect, only to realise a few weeks later they were all talk and no substance, you're definitely not alone. So many small business owners feel awkward or unsure in interviews, and that often leads to hiring decisions based on gut feel alone, instead of the right information.

I keep seeing business owners make the same mistakes in interviews. They spend the first five minutes explaining the role, the business and exactly what they’re looking for, which makes it incredibly easy for candidates to mirror back the “perfect” answers. The reality is, interviewing is still one of the most important hiring tools you have in your business, and learning how to ask better questions can completely change the quality of people you bring into your team.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the three critical types of interview questions every small business owner should be using in their hiring process. I share why behavioural interview questions are so powerful, how to spot red flags in vague answers, and why understanding someone’s work style and values matters just as much as their experience on paper.

I also talk about what to do after the interview, including the notes you should be taking immediately while your instincts and observations are still fresh. If you’ve ever struggled with recruitment, staff fit, or making confident hiring decisions, this episode will help you interview with far more clarity and confidence.

In this episode we cover:

• The biggest mistakes business owners make in interviews
• Why behavioural interview questions reveal more honest answers
• How to identify work style mismatches before making a hire
• The subtle clues that show whether someone will fit your team culture
• What notes to take after an interview to make better hiring decisions

Links & Resources:

• Join People Powered HR: https://www.peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au/pphr
• DM me on Instagram @kristy.lee.billett
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyleebillett/
• Email me at [email protected]
• Book a 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/kristyleebillett/chat

What this episode covers

• Hiring the wrong person is expensive, frustrating and exhausting for small business owners, especially when the interview felt like it went well at the time. This episode explains how to ask interview questions that uncover real behaviours, work styles and values, rather than rehearsed answers designed to impress.
• Small business owners will learn how to run more effective interviews, spot red flags earlier, and make hiring decisions with greater confidence. The episode also explores why relying too heavily on resumes and experience can lead to poor recruitment outcomes.

Key insight from this episode

• The quality of your interview questions directly impacts the quality of your hiring decisions. When candidates are asked to explain real past experiences and practical work preferences, it becomes much harder for them to simply tell you what you want to hear, and much easier for you to assess genuine fit and capability.
• What you'll take away
• How to structure interviews so candidates reveal genuine behaviours and experiences
• The difference between practical, behavioural and culture-fit interview questions
• What vague interview answers can signal about a candidate’s experience or honesty
• How to identify whether someone’s preferred work style aligns with the role
• Why post-interview notes and gut instinct both matter in the recruitment process