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As a business owner, you are familiar with the trials and tribulations of hiring (and firing) workers. It can be hard to tell from just an interview if someone will be a good fit for your business. That’s why it’s important to ask the right questions. Here are a few to consider before you hire someone and hook them up with business cards and their very own desk:

What is your dream job?
People who are not working toward something they love tend to have less motivation and not be as reliable as their peers. If you own a dentist office, look for people who want to become dentists themselves, or who are going through school to become a dental hygienist. These individuals will make great receptionists and assistants because they are gaining valuable career skills and insight into the industry they want to spend their time in.

This may not be possible, as not everyone has time to attend school and work. When interviewing ​potential new employees, ask what their dream job is as well as what they are doing to get to that position. They may be a barista right now, for example, but maybe they are running a blog in their free time in order to gain writing experience and work toward becoming a magazine contributor. This drive shows that they work toward what they want, which can be very helpful if they make the cut and become a part of your company.

Can you share a time when you used problem solving to tackle an issue at work?
Asking yes or no questions is not a great way to gain insight into a person’s work style or personality. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask open-ended queries like, “Can you share a time when you used problem solving to tackle an issue at work?” Small Business Chronicles recommends asking this in order to learn about their skills at resolving problems and to see how they work with others. Their answers will show what they did to help as well as the way they went about doing so. Good problem solvers are great to have around as they keep their cool in tough situations and are often useful with customer service since they can logically resolve an issue.

Why did you hold this position?
When looking through a resume, you may notice some gaps of unemployment or when the applicant held a job that seems off their career path. Perhaps they were a bar tender when the rest of their work history includes internships for lawyers’ offices. Ask what made the potential staffer take these positions or periods of unemployment. While you shouldn’t delve into the details of their personal life, it can help to explain a person’s motivations, as well as what they do to get by, which is helpful when deciding if you want to hire them.

Don’t forget to use code BSM915 at checkout for a 10 percent discount on everything until Sept. 28, 2015.