Hiring managers love to use “curveball” questions to help identify the best, most creative job candidates like – “How many pounds of french fries are consumed in the US every day?” Fortunately recent studies have found that these questions are just as silly as they sound. In fact, Silicon Valley companies started to phase them out several years ago.

Here are some creative and telling questions to ask your candidates at your next job interview.

“Tell me about a time you had to set and meet difficult goals.”

If you’re looking for a results-driven hire, this question can help you gauge whether they can handle the goals you have for them. Have them work through their process.

A good answer:

A good answer shows that they understand what a difficult goal is, and that they can maintain a high-quality of work in pursuit of solutions.

“Tell me about previous relationships you’ve had with colleagues. Describe the best and the worst.”

Every team is different. This can help you determine whether a candidate will be well-liked and productive on your team.

A good answer:

Answers don’t have to focus on solely professional elements of a relationship with colleagues. – they can also address office culture. Look for answers that explain how their work style meshed or conflicted with other team members.

“In your opinion, what is your most significant career accomplishment to date?”

Lou Adler, author of Hire With Your Head deemed this the best interview question that will reveal whether or not to hire a candidate!

A good answer:

Your candidate’s answer will tell you a lot about their prior success and sense of ownership. A great answer will show that they’re confident in their professional choices, and work while being humble enough to show they care about the business’ success.

“Is it better to be perfect and late, or good and on time?”

If they respond, “it depends” listen closely. This question is phrased in a way that candidates can sense there’s a right and wrong answer and they’ll look for signs from you.

A good answer:

For most companies the answer is “good and on time.” Knowing when something is finished and on deadline is more important than perfection!

Asking the right questions can help you narrow the field when it comes to potential hires. Be creative, and listen carefully to their answers.