Job candidates may spend lots of time preparing to answer job interview questions. But if you are doing the interviewing, do you know the right questions to ask? More importantly, do you know the answers to listen for?

Work History:
Q) What were your responsibilities on your last job?
A) The candidate should be specific about what they did in their previous position(s). The best response should describe responsibilities in detail and connect them to the job for which they are interviewing.

Q) Why are you leaving, or why did you leave, your job?
A) There are a multitude of reasons why people change jobs, so the key here is to listen for warnings. Regardless of why they left, speaking badly about a previous employer should leave you wondering if they will be bad-mouthing your company next time they're looking for work.

About the Candidate:
Q) What motivates you?
A) There isn't a right or wrong answer about what motivates the candidate - unless it's all about money or about that ski vacation they took last summer. Ideally, what you hear will be job-related and key to their being successful in their career with your company. This will help you determine if the candidate is a good fit.

Q) Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.
A) The candidate should offer concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work, and then discuss what they did to solve the problem in a positive way.

Q) Where do you see yourself in five years?
A) The answer should not be about goals for returning to school or having a family; they are not relevant. Rather, the answer should connect to the job they are applying for and the future growth of your company.

About the New Job and Company:
Q) What interests you about this job?
A) The best response describes the qualifications listed in the job posting and connects them to their skills and experience. That way, you will see if they know what the job really is and if they have the qualifications necessary to do the job.

Q) What do you know about this company?
A) A great candidate will prepare in advance, providing relevant and current information about your company.

Q) Do you have any questions for me?
A) "You've already explained everything" does not mean you've been extra thorough. It does mean that the candidate has not prepared for this interview. Instead, their response should include questions about the position, the company, potential for growth, and why you like
working here.

There are, of course, many more questions that can be asked, but these can keep the interview on track and on time while giving you enough wisdom about the candidate to decide whether or not they are a good fit to move to the next level of the hiring process.

Sources: Alison Doyle, About.com; Carole Martin, Monster.com