Stop Asking Closed-Ended Questions

(And How To Ask Instead)

Closed-ended questions are ones that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” Questions like: “Did you…?”, “Could you…?”, “Was there…?” etc.

In candidate interviews, closed-ended questions are almost always a mistake. Why? It is not because they “cut off the dialogue,” as is often cited. Most candidates will keep talking, long after their yes/no response.

The real reason to avoid closed-ended questions? They are inherently leading.

Closed-ended questions are projections of your own judgment. You've formed an assumption and you're seeking to validate it. This encourages candidates to twist the facts to give you the “right” answer. It distorts the truth and compromises candidate rapport.

Common Traps

Here are some common closed-ended traps to avoid, along with superior, open-ended alternatives:

Avoid: “Was that innovation your idea?”
Try this: “WHAT was the source of that idea?”

Avoid: “Did you meet your target in that role?”
Try this: “HOW did you perform vs. your targets?”

Avoid: “Did you manage-out that under-performer on your team?”
Try this: “WHAT actions did you take with them?”

Avoid: “Was that a promotion?”
Try This: “WHAT was behind that role change?” (If it was a promotion, the candidate will tell you! And if it wasn’t, the candidate won’t have to disappoint you.)

Key Hack to Break the Closed-Ended Habit

If you are about to ask a closed-ended question, just say “WHAT…?” even if you don’t know the rest of your question. Most candidates will pause, creating space for you to come up the open-ended version. And most of the time, “WHAT” will be the right first word anyway!