For sure. I mean, i think naturally you'll end up there if all goes well. Have some tricky questions prepared of course, but starting simple gives you so much so quickly and often tells you where their strengths and weaknesses will end up being.

I'm not sure if its best to focus on strengths of weaknesses, but i did prefer to focus on strengths. I found convincing myself why I do want to work with someone was a better experience than trying to find reasons not to. Also it just tended to get better buy in from the other team member that way, and i'd know how to assign work once they joined.