Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and Thrive, credits entry interviews as a key part of her outstanding track record in building successful teams.
My interest was piqued when I heard Arianna explain to Steven Bartlett on the DOAC podcast how entry interviews have been a critical part of her journey.
Curious, I googled ‘entry interview,’ and sure enough, there are numerous posts promoting it as a great tool in the recruitment process. However, most seem to miss the essence of it. They focus on standard ‘HR playbook’ questions like: “What are your career goals?” or “What interests you about this role?”
Arianna’s key entry interview question is much simpler:
“What is most important to you outside of work?”
A surprisingly gentle question that focuses entirely on the candidate, not their work.
So why has the entry interview, and this simple question, been so successful for one of the world’s leading entrepreneurs? Here are a few suggestions:
- It’s asked by Arianna herself—not by her HR team. The entry interview needs to be led by the hiring manager, not delegated.
- The question cuts through the typical interview script. It avoids asking for a list of hobbies or activities. Instead, it invites genuine reflection on what truly matters to the candidate.
- It shows a personal investment in the employee. Asking about non-work priorities communicates that the manager values the employee’s life outside of work—a significant shift from the traditional approach.
In essence, the power of the entry interview lies in building relationships. It’s a tool that can help managers connect with their teams on a deeper level, leading to better outcomes.
As someone who has recruited for many years and witnessed both onboarding successes and failures, I hope this post will inspire more managers to see the potential of the entry interview. It certainly worked for Arianna Huffington.
