As an Amazon Recruiter, you will carefully assess applicants to determine the appropriate next steps. When first screening an applicant, what do you believe is the most critical question to ask?

If you do not vet your candidate correctly, they could be a 'bad hire,' which costs your employer time, money, and other vital resources.

Some impactful candidate screening questions include:

- What do you know about our company?
- What excites you the most about this opportunity?
- Can you describe your ideal role to me?
- Why are you looking for a new job?

When your candidate answers these questions, you will gain a strong sense of the research and effort they put into preparing for the interview. You will also learn a lot about the alignment between their values and the company's values.

When screening a candidate, you could ask many essential interview questions. The most crucial first step is to ensure that the opportunity is a good match for your candidate. Share your favorite interview question and talk about why you like to use that particular question. Show the interviewer that you dig deep in your candidate interviews by carefully assessing whether or not they are a good fit for the position.

"One question that I always ask, no matter the position I am vetting the candidate for, is 'Describe your ideal opportunity in detail.' This question puts the responsibility on them to tell me, very specifically, what they seek in a job. I am looking for details on their preferred workplace environment, team size, location, type of industry, and more. If their response feels like a solid match with the open opportunity, only then will I push their resume and profile further. Another no-fail question that I ask most candidates is, 'Why would you accept this job over any others you are entertaining?' I want to see their genuine desire for the role. If they cannot show enthusiasm for the position or company, I will remove them from the competition."