The Self-Storage Manager Interview: Quirky Questions and Other Trends to Consider

By Amy Campbell

So where do you see yourself in five years? If this is one of your go-to interview questions, it may be time to make some changes. Hiring the right people to operate your self-storage facility is imperative to its successand it begins with the interview process. According to an article on Entreprenuer.com, the average cost of recruiting, hiring and training a new employee is about $4,000. If you make a poor choice, consider that money flushed away.

Back to the question at the beginning of this blog. Lets face it, this has been a staple in interviews across all industries for decades. Other old-school questions include, Tell me about yourself, What did you dislike about your previous job, and everyones favorite Why do you want to work here? While these questions might garner some insightful answers, you have to remember the person in front of you likely has canned responses to these often-asked questions.  They also dont help you really get to know a person or ascertain if they have the right skills for the job. And theyre boring!

So are you ready to switch it up? An article on MSNs Careers explores interview trends that will not only help you find the right person for your open position, but will also get your new hire excited to work for you.

Lets start with those stale questions. Of course youll need a handful of questions to assess the candidates ability to handle the job, but you should also sprinkle in a few quirky questions. The MSN article includes these gem: "If it were possible, what theme song would play each time you entered a room?" and "If you were a Disney character, which character would you be and why?" Beginning the interview with an unexpected question will help your candidates personality come to the forefront. It can also help the person relax a bit, and shows you have a sense of humor. Bonus: You can follow up with a why this song or character and how it relates to their job skills. 

Another trend popping up is the group interview. This can occur on either side of the table with more than one candidate being interviewed or multiple interviewers asking the questions. While either scenario can be an intimidating process for candidates, you will see how well they do under pressure. If youre planning to conduct batch interviews, be sure to address everyone equally. You might also want to consider doing follow-up, individual interviews with candidates that stood out from the pack.

In todays digital age, video interviews are another hot trend. One great advantage video interviewing offers is you can consider out-of-state candidates. Another bonusyou can conduct interviews while traveling or include another person in the process. If youre considering this trend, be sure your Internet connection is up to par. Frozen frames, or a slow or lost connection isnt the business image you want to project to your potential new hire.

You can find more guidance on hiring staff and other human-resource subject matter on the ISS Staffing pages. Get advice on hiring part-time staff, interview techniques, bonuses and incentives, manager training, recruiting, and more.  Members of Self-Storage Talk are also sharing interview questions on this thread.

Have you changed your interview process recently? Have any interesting questions or advice to share? Comment below or on Self-Storage Talk, the industrys largest forum.