There are several qualities hiring managers look for in a potential employee, but some are easier to gauge than others. It’s fairly simple to tell if a candidate has the requisite experience necessary to perform, but it’s more difficult to tell their level of ingenuity and ability to innovate during the interview process. This is a problem, as most managers would agree that their top performers are also their most innovative, and the ability to think outside the box is one of the most sought after skills in the talent pool. However, using careful questioning, hiring managers can get a sense of a potential employee’s ability to innovate. One technique is to ask candidates about a time they lacked the skills or knowledge they needed to complete an assignment, and how they handled it. The question is simple and open ended by design. There is no right or wrong answer, but by listening to the candidate’s response the manager should be able to pick up on some hallmarks of innovation, or a lack thereof.