How to Use ChatGPT to Write Effective Interview Questions

Congratulations!

Revenue is on the rise. Your business is expanding. You can’t keep up with demand. It’s time to hire new team members so you can stop pulling all nighters to try to keep your clients satisfied.

But —

That also means you’ve got to screen 300 new job candidates.

You know the right interview questions will uncover those new candidates. But the wrong ones will let bad hires slip through.

You could pull generic interview questions off the web. But those kinds of questions don’t work.

Or you could write your own. With “all that free time” you have.

Stop.

Just use ChatGPT from OpenAI. Yes it works.

Below, you’ll see how to use ChatGPT to write interview questions that find that needle-in-a-haystack employee like an electromagnet.

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Write Two Kinds of Interview Questions

You know this, deep down —

If you only use “tell me about a time” interview questions, you might as well toss a coin.

That’s because creative people can B.S. their way past those kinds of questions.

So before we show you how to write good interview questions with ChatGPT, let’s look at the two kinds of questions to ask.

Behavioral questions to check their past. These are questions like “Tell me about a project you worked on that required collaboration with a cross-functional team.” While some poor candidates can bluff their way through them, they’ll help you screen out the obvious duds.
Assessment questions to learn their skills. These interview questions can’t be bluffed or prepared for. They let you wind-tunnel-test your job candidates in action. These are questions like tk (from our tests)

Pro Tip: The best way to assess a candidate isn’t with interview questions: It’s by checking their references the right way. See our article: Reference Checking: How HR Experts Do It

1. Know the Job Role

You can’t find something if you don’t know what it looks like. Whether you’re using ChatGPT to write interview questions or doing it yourself, you’ll need to know as much about the job role as possible.

Take the time to:

Learn the key challenges

Build a list of the ten biggest challenges and problems the new hire will face in the role. You can do this by talking to a current employee or supervisor or (better yet) taking a survey of several. This part takes time to gather and sort the responses, but you’ll save that time later when you make a great hire.

At the same time, list the top ten soft skills and technical skills the perfect new hire will have. You can make that part of your survey too.

Once you know the biggest problems of the job role and the skills needed to overcome them, you’re ready to use ChatGPT to write the best interview questions for it.

2. Log Into ChatGPT

The first step is to log into the tool. Just visit ChatGPT, then simply type your question or statement in the chatbox and hit enter. ChatGPT will use its natural language processing abilities to generate a response.

3. Use ChatGPT to Write Behavioral Interview Questions

This part is easy.

Ask ChatGPT to write 20 behavioral interview questions for you. These are the “tell me about a time” questions that give you a glimpse of your candidate’s past.

To do this, use the following prompt:

ChatGPT Prompt:

Write 20 interview questions for a warehouse picker. They need to be skilled in pallets, pallet jacks, communication, and math. Their biggest challenges will be items in the wrong locations, prioritization, heavy workloads, and overstocks.

ChatGPT Reply:

Can you describe your experience working with pallet jacks and other warehouse equipment?
How do you handle situations where items are in the wrong location in the warehouse?
Can you give an example of a time when you had to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced warehouse environment?
What is your approach to managing heavy workloads and meeting productivity targets?
How do you maintain accuracy and attention to detail when picking orders?
Can you explain your understanding of the importance of safety in a warehouse setting?
What is your approach to communicating effectively with coworkers and supervisors in a warehouse setting?
Can you provide an example of a time when you had to navigate and resolve a conflict with a coworker?
How do you handle overstocks and excess inventory in the warehouse?
Can you discuss your experience with using handheld scanners and other warehouse technology?

How do you approach time management and organization when working in a warehouse setting?
Can you describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision regarding warehouse operations?
How do you manage and prioritize orders when multiple orders are due at the same time?
Can you provide an example of how you use math in your work as a warehouse picker?
How do you maintain a positive attitude and work ethic in a physically demanding job?
Can you discuss your experience with inventory management systems, and how you have used them in your work?
How do you handle situations where items are damaged or defective in the warehouse?
Can you describe your experience with receiving and stocking inventory in the warehouse?
What is your approach to maintaining a clean and organized warehouse environment?
Can you explain your understanding of the importance of teamwork in a warehouse setting, and how you have contributed to a positive team dynamic in the past?

ChatGPT just wrote 20 penetrating interview questions that will help you cut to the heart of what you’re looking for in a job candidate that fits the role like Honeywell PPE.

But —

Those questions can be fooled. A clever job candidate can make things up or cherry-pick their finest moments, even if their skills are on the Clark Griswold side.

So —

You’ll also need to use ChatGPT to write assessment test interview questions.

Pro Tip: Did you know Discovered Hiring Software’s AI integrations can do all this and more for you, writing job descriptions, candidate outreach, interview questions, and all your customized hiring materials in minutes? See our article: The Hire Talent Announces ChatGPT for Hiring

4. Use ChatGPT to Write Interview Questions That Assess Skills

Uh-oh. You just hired the wrong candidate. Now you’ll spend six months trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole, then you’ll fire them and start the search again. What a waste!

The problem?

You asked only behavioral interview questions during the interview, and this candidate was great at interviewing.

You should have asked some assessment interview questions tool. They can’t be bluffed or spoofed. The candidate either has the skill, or they don’t.

To use ChatGPT to write tailored assessment interview questions, use a prompt like:

ChatGPT Prompt:

Write 20 skills assessment interview questions for a registered nurse. They will work at this hospital: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/ and the questions should check to see if they know how to assess patient health, administer specific, common medications, take vital signs, and follow HIPAA regulations.

ChatGPT Reply:

How do you typically approach assessing a patient's health? Can you walk me through the steps you take to gather important information about their medical history and current symptoms?
If you were asked to administer heparin, how would you ensure that the patient received the correct dosage and that they did not experience any adverse reactions?
Taking vital signs is a critical part of a nurse's role. Can you describe the different vital signs that you are responsible for monitoring, and how you would respond if you noticed any irregularities in a patient's readings?
How would you handle a situation where a patient requests that their medical information be shared with a family member or friend who is not listed on their HIPAA authorization form? Specifically, how would you ensure that you are following HIPAA regulations while also addressing the patient's request and providing appropriate patient care?
How would you handle a situation where a physician orders a medication for a patient that conflicts with a medication the patient is already taking? Specifically, how would you ensure that you are providing safe and effective patient care while also communicating with the physician and pharmacist to resolve any potential medication conflicts or interactions?
How would you handle a situation where a patient refuses to use the correct pronouns of staff and other patients? Specifically, how would you address the patient's behavior while also ensuring that all patients feel respected and safe in their healthcare environment?
Patient education is an important aspect of nursing. Can you describe how you would teach a patient with diabetes about self-management strategies and medication adherence?
As part of your job, you are required to communicate complex medical information to the patient's family members. If one of your patients had suffered a stroke, what information would you convey to family members, and what strategies would you use to ensure that they understood the information?
How would you respond to a conflict between a patient's family member and the healthcare team? Specifically, can you describe the steps you would take to de-escalate the situation, understand the root cause of the conflict, and come to a resolution that meets the patient's needs while ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected?
Nurses are responsible for maintaining a safe and sterile environment for patients. Can you describe how you ensure that patient rooms are clean and infection-free, and what precautions you take to prevent the spread of infection?

As a nurse, you may encounter patients who are noncompliant with their treatment plans. How would you handle a situation where a patient refuses to take medications or follow other aspects of their treatment plan?
Nurses often work in high-stress environments. How do you manage your stress levels, and what techniques do you use to ensure that you are able to provide the best possible patient care?
Nurses must be skilled at assessing pain in patients. Can you describe how you evaluate and manage pain in patients, and what techniques you use to ensure that patients are comfortable?
As a nurse, you may be responsible for delegating tasks to other healthcare professionals. Can you describe how you would delegate tasks to a nursing assistant or another team member, and how you would ensure that the task is completed correctly?
Nurses play a critical role in preventing medication errors. Can you describe your approach to medication management, including how you check for allergies, ensure the correct dosage, and avoid drug interactions?
Nurses are responsible for monitoring patient progress and making adjustments to their care plan as needed. Can you describe how you would modify a patient's care plan if their condition changed or if they were not responding to treatment?
Effective time management is essential for nurses. Can you describe how you prioritize tasks and manage your time to ensure that patient care is delivered efficiently and without delay?
Nurses must be able to recognize and respond to medical emergencies. Can you describe how you would respond to a patient experiencing respiratory distress, and what steps you would take to stabilize the patient?
Maintaining patient confidentiality is critical for nurses. Can you describe how you would handle a situation where a patient's family member requested information about their medical condition, but the patient had not authorized the release of this information?
Nurses are responsible for educating patients about healthy lifestyle choices. Can you describe how you would educate a patient about the importance of exercise and a healthy diet, and provide them with practical tips to incorporate these behaviors into their daily routine?

Did you see how we added the hospital’s website URL to the prompt? ChatGPT will actually look at the website and adjust its interview questions based on what it finds there.

The beauty of the assessment interview questions above is that it’s virtually impossible for a nurse who doesn’t know a cannula from a cabbage to bluff his way through them.

Pro Tip: After ChatGPT generated the list of interview questions above, we had to go through the list and make a few questions more specific. For instance, we asked the AI to write a question about handling a specific HIPAA regulation — not a generic one.

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5. Use ChatGPT to Write Interview Questions That Assess Personality

What makes a great employee?

Is it a long list of technical skills? Or is it a certain attitude that makes them amiable, eager to help and learn, and willing to do what it takes to get the job done right?

Most HR teams and recruiters would argue for both.

That’s why it’s vital that you assess your job candidates’ personalities — not just their skills.

To use ChatGPT to write tailored cultural fit interview questions, use a prompt like:

ChatGPT Prompt:

Write 20 cultural fit interview questions for a marketing manager. They will work at this company: https://www.discoveredats.com/ and the questions should assess their personality to see if they are good to work with, can work well as part of a team, can keep their emotions in check during difficult situations, are honest, hard working, motivated, and conscientious.

ChatGPT Reply:

Can you describe a time when you had to work collaboratively with other teams or departments to accomplish a marketing goal? How did you communicate effectively with your colleagues to ensure a successful outcome?
How do you prioritize tasks and manage your time to ensure that you meet deadlines while maintaining high-quality work?
Can you describe a situation where you had to handle a difficult or challenging client, and how did you handle the situation to ensure their satisfaction while maintaining a positive relationship?
How do you ensure that your marketing strategies are ethical and align with the values and mission of the company?
Can you describe a time when you had to provide marketing support for a product or service that you didn't personally believe in or support? How did you approach the situation and ensure that the marketing was effective?
How do you handle situations where a marketing campaign or strategy is not successful, and what steps do you take to evaluate its performance and make improvements?
Can you describe a time when you had to adjust your communication style to effectively communicate with a client or team member who had different communication preferences or styles?
How do you ensure that you remain up-to-date with the latest marketing trends and technologies, and how do you incorporate this knowledge into your work?
Can you describe a time when you had to handle a conflict or disagreement with a colleague, and how did you work to resolve the situation while maintaining a positive and productive working relationship?
How do you ensure that you maintain accurate and complete records of your marketing strategies and campaigns, and what steps do you take to evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing efforts?

Can you describe a situation where you had to adapt your marketing strategy to meet the needs of a rapidly changing market or industry? How did you stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive?
How do you handle stressful situations or high-pressure environments, such as tight deadlines or difficult clients?
Can you describe a time when you had to market a product or service to a specific demographic or target audience, and how did you ensure that your marketing was effective for that audience?
How do you ensure that you are following all company policies and procedures related to marketing and advertising, and what steps do you take to ensure that you are in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations?
Can you describe a time when you had to provide leadership or mentorship to junior members of your team, and how did you approach the situation to ensure that they were successful in their work?
Can you describe a situation where you had to work under tight deadlines or in a fast-paced environment, and how did you prioritize tasks and manage your time to ensure successful outcomes?
How do you handle situations where a client or team member is dissatisfied with your work, and what steps do you take to address their concerns and ensure their satisfaction?
Can you describe a time when you had to market a product or service that was new or unfamiliar to you? How did you approach the situation, and what steps did you take to ensure that your marketing was effective?
How do you ensure that you are continuously improving and learning in your role as a marketing manager?
Can you describe a situation where you had to handle confidential information related to marketing or advertising campaigns, and how did you ensure that you maintained the privacy and security of this information?

By using ChatGPT to write cultural fit interview questions like that, you can save hours of time and cut right to what matters most: finding the best fit.

Pro Tip: You can assess your candidates automatically for key job skills with The Hire Talent’s science-backed assessment tools. See our article: Pre-Employment Tests: Boost Hiring Efficiency by 74%

Helping Ensure Unbiased and Inclusive Interview Questions with ChatGPT

Once you have your list of new, or old, interview questions make sure they’re unbiased and inclusive for all candidates. To do this, simply input them into ChatGPT and ask it something like this: “Please take these interview questions and edit them to be inclusive and unbiased.”

This will help your organization promote a more equitable evaluation process by suggesting alternative phrasings that embrace diversity and inclusivity, ensuring all candidates feel respected and welcome.

Integrating ChatGPT into Your Recruitment Workflow

To fully harness the power of ChatGPT in your recruitment process, it's essential to integrate it into your existing workflow. Note that at the time of this writing the API feature of ChatGPT has a waitlist, so if you’re looking to hard code the system into your current techstack, you’ll have to wait. Nevertheless, you can still utilize the web version, here's how:

Collaborate with hiring managers to align your interview questions with the specific needs and values of your organization.
References from previous supervisors – proven to result in better hiring outcomes.
Collect references from candidates fast.

The more buy-in you have from your team the more productive your organization can become!

Why You Need Effective Interview Questions

Before we conclude our explanation of how to create interview questions with ChatGPT, let's address the importance of using high-quality questions.

Identifying top talent: Sharp, targeted questions uncover the candidates with the most potential to excel in your organization.
Assessing candidate fit: Well-structured questions can gauge how well a candidate aligns with your company's values, culture, and expectations.
Uncovering potential red flags: Thoughtful questions can reveal any concerns or warning signs that may impact a candidate's performance or fit within the team.

Removing bias: By crafting neutral, relevant questions, you can create an equitable environment that allows each candidate to shine.

Key Takeaway

ChatGPT is a unique tool that can speed up your hiring process and help you find and interview the best candidates faster. While it has its detractors, the tool very much follows the old GIGO guideline of “garbage in, garbage out.” If you feed ChatGPT the right prompts, it can write exceptional interview questions for you in an eyeblink.