Part 1: The 5 Dealbreaker Questions (Ask These FIRST)
If they fail any of these – don’t hire them.
1. What’s your internet speed, and what’s your backup plan if it goes down?
❓ Why: Slow internet = missed deadlines, dropped calls, frustration. Remote workers often face with this issue and best of them have a few backup plans for this case.
💡 Pro Tip: Test their speed live on Speedtest.net and require a backup (mobile hotspot, Starlink, etc.).
2. What time zone do you work in, and how many hours overlap with mine?
❓ Why:Zero overlap = zero collaboration.
💡 Best overlaps:
- US (EST) → Ukraine, Romania, Poland (4–6h)
- US (PST) → Bulgaria, Serbia (3–5h)
- UK/EU → Eastern Europe (1–2h)
3. Can you show me proof of past work similar to this role?
❓ Why: “Trust me” ≠ actual results.
💡 Test ideas:
- Developers – Fix a small bug in your code.
- Marketers – Audit an ad campaign.
- Support – Draft a reply to a tough customer email.
4. What’s your expected salary, and how did you decide on that number?
❓ Why: Unrealistic expectations = early resignation.
💡 Pro Tips:
- Offer 10–15% above market rate for retention.
- Lowballing = turnover.
💲 Approximate salary ranges (Eastern Europe):
- Developer → Junior $20–30K | Mid $30–50K | Senior $50–80K
- Marketer → Junior $15–25K | Mid $25–40K | Senior $40–60K
- Support → Junior $12–20K | Mid $20–30K | Senior $30–40K
- Executive Assistant → Junior $15–25K | Mid $25–35K | Senior $35–50K
5. What’s your notice period?
❓ Why: 3-month notice = huge delay.
If unemployed, ask: “Why did you leave your last job?”
Part 2: The 5 Skill-Test Questions (Spot the Pros Early)
6. Walk me through how you’d solve [a real problem in my business].
✅ Example (for marketers): “Our Facebook ads have 5% CTR but 0% conversions – what’s your fix?”
7. What tools do you use for your key tasks and why?
❓ Why: Wrong tools = inefficiency.
✅ Expected answers:
- Dev → GitHub, VS Code, Jira, Docker
- Marketer → Google Ads, Ahrefs, Klaviyo, Canva
- Support → Zendesk, Intercom, Notion
- Ops → Asana, Trello, Zapier
8. How do you prioritize tasks when everything feels urgent?
✅ “I use the Eisenhower Matrix: Do → Schedule → Delegate → Drop.”
❌ “I just do what’s due first.”
9. Tell me about a mistake you made and how you fixed it.
✅ “I sent a promo email with a broken link → fixed + resent → added QA step.”
❌ “I’ve never made a mistake.”
10. How do you stay motivated while working remotely?
✅ “Calendar blocks, daily goals, Focus on deep work.”
❌ “I work when I feel like it.”
Part 3: The 5 Culture-Fit Questions (Avoid Toxic Hires)
11. How do you handle feedback you disagree with?
✅ “I ask for examples, then adjust my approach.”
❌ “I just do things my way.”
12. What’s your communication style?
✅ “I prefer async (Slack/email) but jump on calls when needed.”
❌ “I only check email once a day.”
13. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.
✅ “I rewrote onboarding emails, boosted conversions 15% without being asked.”
❌ “I just do my job.”
14. How do you handle conflict with a coworker?
✅ “I schedule a 1:1, listen, and focus on solutions.”
❌ “I avoid conflict.”
15. What’s your long-term career goal?
✅ “I want to master [skill] and grow into leadership.”
❌ “Just here for the paycheck.”
🔎 Bonus Trick: How to Spot Liars in Interviews
Ask the same question twice, 30 minutes apart.
Example: First: “What’s your biggest weakness?” > “I’m a perfectionist.” Later: “Give me an example of when that hurt your work.”
❌ “Uh… I don’t know.”→ They lied.
✅ “I once missed a deadline because I over-polished a design.”
This trick catches 30% of liars.
P.S. Need Hiring Help?
If you’d rather skip the hassle:
- ✅ We source, test, and onboard pre-vetted talent for you.
- ✅ We handle contracts, payroll, and compliance.
- ✅ We guarantee your hire or replace them free.
🔗 Book a Free Consultation
