“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” The next time you’re on the way to a job interview, remember this quote.
Conventionality is secure and familiar, but is it memorable? Not necessarily. But here is a secret: they are not mutually exclusive. Be bold in your approach, and try not only to be the most memorable nominee but also the strongest one. This is how it goes!
An interview is a two-way street. Your prospective employer asks you questions about yourself and your expertise. In return, to be sure this is the right job for you, you will prepare questions to ask your interviewer about the position, your boss and the company. Additionally, if you’re not asking competent questions, you run the interviewer’s risk of assuming you’re not interested or prepared.
Your opportunity to ask questions usually arises at the end of the interview. At least several questions must be prepared that show your interest in the job, your desire to succeed in the role, and the fact that you have done some homework.
Firstly, do you understand the job you are being interviewed for?
It may sound too simple but there are many people, even though they have applied for a job, did not seem to know the intricacies of what the job entailed. You can’t, of course, know all about it but should have a good understanding of the role that you are applying for and make sure you ask poignant questions at the end to show you want further depth to the research you have already done.
Here are some of the questions you can ask when you are in an interview:
- Can you explain what the work environment is like here?
The setting in which you are to work may be just as critical as the job itself. Have they got a strict dress code? Do they make work-life balance a priority? If employee happiness is a priority, the chances that you would choose to stick around are greater.
- What’s the company’s greatest opportunity/challenge right now?
This question shows you’re interested in the bigger picture — and you can tie their response to your position. If you have expertise or suggestions that can overcome any potential issues raised then now is the time to mention them.
- What are the initial challenges to expect in the first 30 days?
It’s crucial to understand the main goals and outcomes of the role — and how your future overseer can assess your success. If you are doing a long-term internship, ask what they’d like to see down the road for six months.
- Can you tell me what will a typical day look like?
This shows that you want to understand the time and requirements that will be expected of you and if you will be going in at the level that you really expect or if there is a period of integration in the beginning.
- What would you define as the most important qualities for succeeding in this role?
By now, you know what the job requires; this question helps you to find out what it takes to be a success. Plus as an added bonus, the answer the interviewer will give you will help you if you get the desired role and also about how to build your own skill set for the future.
- Is there anything about my history or resume that would make you wonder if I’m a good fit for that role?
This question indicates you are strongly invested in the job and committed to knowing your success at being a successful candidate. Plus, it will also allow you to respond to any possible concerns.
- Does the organization provide additional or continuing education?
When you ask this question, you’re showing your interest in increasing your expertise and growth with the company.
You will already know a few things about the reputation of the company after doing some research. Now it’s time to dig a little deeper to make sure you’re going to succeed in this environment.
- What is your favorite part of working at the company?
It is necessary to get the views of your interviewer about working there. If excitement flows with ease, then this is a great sign but if not, it’s worth remembering that too when deciding if that is the role for you.
- How do you measure success both in this role and across the business?
Getting a clear understanding of how a firm evaluates success is crucial. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) important for the role? How are these assessed, and how often?
And in the end, some questions from the company’s reputation will also have an amazing impact on the interviewer.
Remember that doing your own research on the company is key and you can login to find out all about the companies you are interested in on Careersaas.