Use these questions to identify a candidate’s technical knowledge and abilities
Use these questions to determine how a candidate handled situations in the past
Use these questions to assess a candidate’s personal traits and cognitive skills
Why this matters:
Quality control specialists rely on a variety of programs for analytics, compliance control, customer satisfaction management, and more. While some tools are considered industry standards, new technology rolls out every year. What’s most important is their willingness to learn and adapt to new technology.
What to listen for:
- Any solid quality control specialist will be eager to discuss the pros and cons of various software solutions, because noticing meticulous details is part of the job.
- Look for a willingness to learn new software and tools if needed.
Why this matters:
Testing is a critical part of the product development process and often a legal requirement to work with another company. Answers will vary based on the product at hand, but most processes progress through testing phases in a similar way. Experienced quality control specialists should be able to discuss how they evaluated various aspects of products over the course of their career.
What to listen for:
- Listen for references to specific concepts, such as control audits, safety, sanitation, and product specification assurance.
- Answers should demonstrate a thorough understanding of important quality control use cases.
Why this matters:
Scheduling new manufacturing efforts cannot be done independently of other facility commitments. Priorities must be established, milestones determined, and a start and completion date negotiated. Changing priorities, manufacturing mistakes, and design changes all contribute to delays. A good quality control specialist can control these factors with a systems approach that cuts across functions and disciplines.
What to listen for:
- Candidates should list best practices they follow, like reviewing production control documents, manufacturing plans, inspection requirements, and vendor and supplier requirements.
- A strong answer will include details about why they favor particular practices.
Why this matters:
Quality control is part solo work, part team effort. It’s important for a quality control specialist to collaborate with others on a regular basis to solve problems, make recommendations, and put effective protocols in place. Any impactful quality control specialist will have a collaborative spirit with an independent focus.
What to listen for:
- The ideal answer will show respect for coworkers’ experience and knowledge, and an understanding of why collaboration is essential.
- Hesitation could indicate the candidate doesn’t value collaboration or hasn’t helped to foster a good team relationship in the past.
Why this matters:
With this question, you’ll gain insight into the candidate’s eye for detail and their problem-solving skills. The best quality control specialists are proactive about identifying potential vulnerabilities, implementing fixes, and strategizing ways to prevent further issues.
What to listen for:
- A forward-thinking approach that dealt with the problem at hand—and helped protect against future issues.
- Quick thinking and leadership ability, as quality assurance issues can rapidly escalate if not handled fast.
Why this matters:
Quality control sometimes involves tedious yet vital tasks, so you want to find a specialist who can deal with the repetition—without losing focus. Strong candidates will be familiar with the nature of the work and understand that repetition is part of what makes their job so important. They’ll also feel comfortable maintaining engagement in their work, whatever the task.
What to listen for:
- Excellent answers will demonstrate an understanding that repetition ultimately leads to a stronger quality control process.
- Top answers may also cover opportunities to improve processes through automation if needed.
Why this matters:
This question can help you assess which soft skills your candidate values most in others—and how they see themselves. Quality control specialists need strong interpersonal skills as well as technical prowess. Their answer will also give you a good sense of how they’ll fit in with the rest of your team—and whether they’ll bring something new to the table.
What to listen for:
- Great answers will emphasize teamwork and an eye for detail.
- Look for candidates whose skills will complement those of your existing team, helping to plug any gaps.
Why this matters:
Asking a candidate to talk you through a large-scale assignment will give you insight into their overall experience as a quality control specialist. Top candidates will have a proven track record of taking projects from conception to actionable results—and working through the complex quality assurance challenges involved.
What to listen for:
- Indications that the candidate has a solid iterative process for tackling challenging projects.
- Strong candidates may mention that feedback from the stakeholders played a critical role in their process.
Why this matters:
This question can help you spot individuals with passion and ambition. Technology that’s hot one year can become obsolete the next. Quality control specialists must have a commitment to continuous learning to ensure their skills don’t become outdated. If they’re deeply passionate about technology and its use in improving quality, they’re likely to thrive in the position.
What to listen for:
- Driven quality control specialists will be able to easily discuss their favorite tools, thought leaders, publications, and more.
- Strong answers may mention current participation in networking groups or classes to update their skills.
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