Conducting a smart interview is important for the hiring manager and the candidate. Employers need to assess an individual’s ambition, potential for growth, values, authenticity, weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Candidates need to convey what makes them special and where they want to take their careers.

Reporter Willa Plank posted the five must-ask questions for companies to ask on WSJ.com. Her post is worth reading.

Here are some of my own questions:  What was your biggest setback in your career and what did you learn from it? What was your biggest business mistake and how did you recover from it? How have you changed most over the past few years? What could you say about your leadership and work style that would be helpful to your colleagues? Continue reading…