The Importance of Good Interview Questions

First impressions can be misleading. So how can you make a fair judgment of a job candidate during a first interview?

That, and more, in today’s Lunchtime Links:

Ask the right questions: Interviewees go in prepared to answer questions, but how prepared are you to ask them? As Fast Company‘s Amy Kelman says, it’s hard to get to know someone in 15 minutes  (opens in a new tab), let alone assess whether he or she will be a good fit for your team. But “by asking the right questions and listening for the right responses, you’ll be able to spot those top-notch individuals who will mesh with your growing team,” Kelman writes  (opens in a new tab). Her tips include being conversational, asking behavioral questions, and seeking passion.

Design of equality: We’ve all witnessed it: The Human Rights Campaign’s red equality symbol has gone viral on the web. Beyond its bold, iconic design and its message about marriage equality, what’s the greater strategic purpose behind the image? “As the Equality Frame gets activated in the minds of people—bringing with it the moral sentiments around human dignity and compassion for our fellow citizens—it alters our social reality by telling us that this is how everyone around us feels about the treatment of homosexuals. Everyone who feels this way gets a steady stream of reinforcement as they scroll through their news feed on Facebook,” Joe Brewer, director of Cognitive Policy Works, writes on Social Fish  (opens in a new tab).

Worst workers are the happiest? A new study by Leadership IQ shows that the lowest-performing workers may be the happiest ones. Forty-two percent of companies surveyed reported that low performers were more engaged, more motivated, and more likely to enjoy working at their organization than middle and high performers, who become frustrated by low-performing colleagues and become disengaged. “They feel stressed and undervalued, and it starts to undermine the high performers’ confidence that the organization is a meritocracy,” Mark Murphy, CEO of Leadership IQ, told the Wall Street Journal  (opens in a new tab). How do you ensure all of your employees stay engaged in their work?

What’s on your reading list today? Let us know your comments below.

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