Start your CRE brokerage company on the right foot with these best interview questions. These will help you find the candidate who will be a good fit for your business.
In this article:
- Why Asking the Right Interview Questions Matters
- The Basic Guideline in Asking the Best Interview Questions
- Good Interview Questions to Ask
- Other Questions to Ask During an Interview
Best Interview Questions | Find the Right Employee by Knowing the Top Interview Questions to Ask
Why Asking the Right Interview Questions Matters
Today, I wish to share some of the best interview questions to ask to hire the right person for the job. Before that, let me tell you why they are important.
Starting a brokerage company is not easy. The work environment is completely different from the other types of industries. You also need a business partner who can help your company grow. In other words, this potential team member does not only produce but also enhances the team or company culture.
In my previous blog, I outlined the critical steps I would take during the hiring process. These CRE interview questions will still be a part of it. The primary goal is to make the onboarding process as smooth as possible for you because you already found the right person for the position.
The Basic Guideline in Asking the Best Interview Questions
In my business, people often ask me, “Why don’t you start your own brokerage firm?” My answer is simple: I love what I do. I own (what I believe is) the best commercial real estate coaching company in the world. I am surrounded by great people. The better question would be “If you were to start a commercial real estate brokerage company, how would you do it?”
Over the years, we have found the best interview questions to provide insight into the key traits we are seeking. To achieve this, we have consistently relied on questions suggested by AVA Assessment (formerly Bizet & Company, Ltd).
Good Interview Questions to Ask
When testing for short-term goals, possible questions include:
- What were your annual goals for last year?
- How did you develop these goals, and how did you keep on target?
When evaluating ambition, possible questions include:
- What things did you experience that helped you reach your career goals?
- What impact did you have on your team in your last position?
- How do you try to achieve or sustain your success?
When looking for persuasiveness, the best interview questions include:
- Have you ever had to persuade a client or group to accept a proposal or idea? How did you go about doing it, and what was the result?
- How did you get a peer, colleague, or client to accept one of your ideas?
When inquiring about that all-important component of assertiveness, possible questions to ask in an interview include:
- What is the most competitive situation you have experienced? How did you handle it, and what was the result?
- What was the riskiest decision you have ever made?
- What projects have you started on your own recently, and what prompted you to start them?
Other Questions to Ask During an Interview
Operating a CRE brokerage company comes with different unique challenges. Do you ever wonder how your potential employee will handle them? For this, you can ask behavioral interview questions. They help you in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate. You can also determine if they’re a good communicator. Can they deliver the right message to you and on your behalf?
Some interview question examples include:
- What is the most challenging part of your job? How do you deal with it?
- How do you deal with stress?
- Have you experienced office conflict? How did you deal with it?
- What are your long-term goals, and what are you doing to achieve them?
Some of the best interview questions are hypothetical questions or situational interview questions. As their name suggests, you create situations, whether actual or fictional. Then you try to determine how the interviewee is going to resolve them.
Before a candidate proceeds through an interview process, they need to prepare. In the same manner, you should be ready with the best interview questions to ask. The ones above are only sample interview questions. You can modify, add, or remove some, depending on your company goals. Either way, asking the right ones will go a long way in filtering out the wrong candidates. They can help you identify the better prospects and have the opportunity to work with them.
No one ever drifted to the success they wanted – they created a plan and set goals. Get the step-by-step proven methodology and workbook to make 2019 your best CRE year yet.
Up Next: The Ideal Commission Structure To Attract Top CRE Brokers
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on February 1, 2018, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
2 Responses
I am really enjoying this series! Thank you for writing it! I noticed in part 1 you teased Part 2 writing:
“In Part 2 of this series (set to be published next week) I will address how I would recruit and compensate team members.”
Part 2 didn’t mention compensating though. I’m curious what Rod’s thoughts are with regard to team compensation structures / commission split structures for his team?
Mathew, thanks for the catch. The topic was so long on recruiting I did not have the bandwidth to address compensation, I will be sure to do so this week.