The former CEO of TripAdvisor has shared an insightful interview question he uses to uncover any potential red flags in job candidates.
Job interviews are stressful enough on their own, with candidates feeling the weight of needing to make a great first impression.
Some hiring managers throw in unexpected tests, like the now-famous coffee cup trick or even the lesser-known ‘salt and pepper’ test, all in an effort to see how interviewees react under pressure.
Honestly, some of these tactics might seem a bit harsh, but employers are often specific about the traits they want to see, and they know how to look for them.
One person who’s pretty familiar with successful hiring practices is Steve Kaufer, who co-founded TripAdvisor, a leading travel service company, back in 2000.
He came up with the idea for the company after struggling with vacation planning for his family and built it into a $2.27 billion business with co-founders Langley Steinert, Nick Shanny, and Thomas Palka.
The 62-year-old has shared some of his interview methods on YouTuber Logan Bartlett’s channel, The Logan Bartlett Show. There, Kaufer explained that one question he regularly asks candidates is, “What’s the hardest project you’ve ever worked on?”
Kaufer listens closely to see if candidates take responsibility for any challenges or if they tend to blame others — that, for him, is a definite red flag.
He continued: “It can tell me, are they ever taking responsibility for why something became difficult?”
If a candidate describes a project as hard simply because it required them to work a Saturday, Kaufer says that can also be “kind of a red flag.”
Adding a twist, he then asks the interviewee how they would improve on their most successful project.
Kaufer said: “That’ll sometimes catch people off guard. And I can see kind of by the pause – they’ve never thought about it.”
He’s looking for someone who’s adaptable and open to facing new challenges, so he also likes to gauge how curious they are by asking about their willingness to explore the latest trends and technologies.
For instance, he asks software engineers if they’ve tried out AI tools or experimented with new chatbot platforms.
Candidates who respond with a “no” often end up lower on the list.
“I just don’t understand it,” Kaufer said. “And I probably don’t want to work with that individual.”
This approach might feel a bit strict — after all, AI is a controversial topic, and not everyone feels it’s essential. But it’s clear these CEOs have their reasons for being so selective!
