An experienced professional should be able to share samples of their work or tell you about projects they've worked on. Use your best judgement about this based on how they've represented themselves: Some types of work aren't always public or easily shared, for example, and someone with years of experience may not have a big portfolio if they've recently made the move to self employment.

☛ Things to listen for: Quality. Does their work represent the skill level and attention to detail you're looking for?

☛ Follow-up question: "What was your approach to this project?" This question will help give you more insight into how they collaborated with others, addressed the client's needs, met challenges, or exceeded expectations.