Hiring the right people isn't just about skills and experience. It's about ensuring they align with your company culture and can collaborate effectively with others. But how do you spot potential red flags during interviews?

At Hirevire, we know that building a healthy, productive workplace starts with identifying the right talent from the get-go. That’s why we’ve put together 15 key questions to help you detect toxic traits before they disrupt your organization.

Why It’s Crucial to Screen for Toxic Traits?

Toxic employees don’t just impact performance—they can:

• Lower team morale

• Drive up turnover rates

• Create negative work environments

• Cost your company time and money

By asking the right questions, you can avoid these pitfalls and foster a team that thrives.

15 Interview Questions to Reveal Toxicity

1. "Can you describe a time when you disagreed with a coworker? How did you handle it?"

What to listen for: Respect, open communication, and a collaborative mindset.

Red flag: Defensiveness, blame-shifting, or an inability to compromise.

2. "How do you handle workplace stress?"

What to listen for: Healthy coping strategies and proactive problem-solving.

Red flag: Complaints, avoidance, or a tendency to lash out.

3. "Describe your ideal work environment."

What to listen for: Alignment with your company’s culture and values.

Red flag: A focus only on perks or a preference for working in isolation.

4. "What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?"

What to listen for: Self-awareness and an understanding of how others view them.

Red flag: Inability to acknowledge personal flaws or overly defensive responses.

5. "How do you like to receive feedback?"

What to listen for: Openness to constructive criticism and a willingness to improve.

Red flag: Defensiveness or claiming they rarely need feedback.

6. "Tell me about a time you made a mistake. How did you handle it?"

What to listen for: Accountability and the ability to learn from their errors.

Red flag: Blaming others or refusing to admit any mistakes.

7. "When everything feels urgent, how do you prioritize your tasks?"

What to listen for: Strong organizational skills and clear communication.

Red flag: Becoming overwhelmed easily or neglecting team dynamics.

8. "Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a significant change at work."

What to listen for: Flexibility and a positive attitude towards change.

Red flag: Resistance to change or difficulty adjusting.

9. "What do you do when you're asked to step outside your job description?"

What to listen for: Willingness to be a team player and contribute to broader goals.

Red flag: Strict adherence to roles or refusal to help others.

10. "How do you handle working with someone you don’t get along with?"

What to listen for: Professionalism and the ability to work through personal feelings.

Red flag: Negative comments about past colleagues or an inability to collaborate.

11. "What motivates you when dealing with repetitive tasks?"

What to listen for: Self-motivation and finding value in all aspects of the job.

Red flag: Complaints about "boring" work or needing constant external motivation.

12. "Tell me about a time you had to deliver bad news to a client or colleague."

What to listen for: Empathy, clear communication, and effective problem-solving.

Red flag: Avoidance of difficult conversations or lack of sensitivity.

13. "How do you handle tight deadlines?"

What to listen for: Time management skills and ability to thrive under pressure.

Red flag: Blaming others for missed deadlines or becoming overly stressed.

14. "Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a colleague or client."

What to listen for: A willingness to help others and prioritize team success.

Red flag: Difficulty coming up with examples or focusing only on self-interest.

15. "What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from a workplace conflict?"

What to listen for: Personal growth and the ability to reflect on past experiences.

Red flag: Lack of introspection or repeated conflict patterns.

Making These Questions Work for You

These questions are conversation starters, designed to reveal how candidates think, act, and respond in various situations. When using them:

• Pay attention to non-verbal cues like body language and tone.

• Dig deeper with follow-up questions to get clearer insights.

• Keep in mind the candidate's career stage and experience when assessing answers.

• Look for consistency across answers rather than focusing on isolated responses.

Build a Positive, High-Performing Team

By incorporating these questions into your interview process, you’ll not only avoid toxic hires but also set the foundation for a team that collaborates, supports each other, and drives success.

At Hirevire, we’re dedicated to helping you find the right candidates who will strengthen your culture. Start using our suite of hiring tools today and build a team that thrives.

Hirevire is the best out there if you are busy and hiring is not the only thing that you do.

Hirevire will collect all types of responses from video, and audio, to file responses to give you better judgement about the candidate's abilities.

You get to see candidates’ true personalities shine while gathering in-depth insights about their abilities.

It is the fastest way to pre-screen applicants and identify those worth investing in for further interviews.

Key Features of Hirevire

• Video Screening - Assess soft skills/fit with pre-recorded video Q&A

• Time Savings - Skip initial interviews to accelerate screening

• ATS Integration - Smooth syncing promotes unified candidate experiences

• Intuitive Interface - Easy for both recruiters and applicants to use

With Hirevire, you can rapidly identify promising talent while simultaneously providing an engaging, modern experience.

Hirevire Cons

• It is not a good fit if you receive very few resumes.

• Not a good fit for interviewers with ample time.

Reviews

• G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

• Capterra: 5.0 stars

• Trustpilot: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Pricing of Hirevire

Hirevire offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card requirements. There are 3 pricing tiers available:

• One Job: $19 per month (Billed annually)

• Startup: $49 per month (Billed annually)

• Growth: $149 per month (Billed annually)

Sounds like exactly what you’ve been looking for? Get started today for free!