If you’re like me, you’ve probably interviewed dozens of applicants over the past few years. And every time, it’s the same challenge: how do you really know who will be the right fit for your practice, your team, and—most importantly—your culture?
You Google “best interview questions,” ask around on DSN, and cross your fingers that your process will uncover someone honest, hardworking, and loyal. But let’s face it—interviews are tricky. Candidates, understandably, put their best face forward… sometimes to the point of being less than truthful.
- Where do you currently work? (They just got fired… but left that part out.)
- What’s your best quality? (“I work too hard.” Right.)
And on it goes…
At my recent event in Lincoln, Nebraska, I had the pleasure of hosting my mentor and advisor Tim Geisert from AuctusIQ. He shared a powerful idea: the magic isn’t in résumé bullet points—it’s in the open-ended questions that reveal character. AuctusIQ uses this approach for everyone from Fortune 500 sales teams to NFL draft picks.
Tim emphasized that the best interviewers don’t just look for checkboxes—they look for real people. Ask questions like:
- “What would your current boss say about you?”
- “How would your friends describe you?”
- “Tell me about a time you faced a difficult situation at work.”
You’re not looking for rehearsed answers. You’re looking for grit. Honesty. Humility. You’re creating space for the real person to show up—and that’s the only way to see if they’ll thrive on your team, not just survive.
This Week’s Action Item:
Write down three open-ended questions you’ll commit to asking in your next interview. Focus less on technical skills and more on who the candidate is. You might be surprised by what you discover—and how much easier building a great team becomes.
Be well and do well,
Addison Killeen
Addison Killeen
P.S. Want to sharpen your hiring process even more? Join Dental Success Network. Inside DSN, you’ll find tested interview strategies, access to assessments, and real-time advice from hundreds of practice owners who’ve been there. Hiring the right team member doesn’t have to be a gamble—when you’ve got a network of experts in your corner. Join DSN today for a 7-day free trial!
