The Job Interview: Ask Questions
Posted on December 01, 2014 by Denise Anne Taylor, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Did you know YOU could ask questions during the job interview? Yes! Here are some tips.
The job interview process is a two-way street, dialogue is key in a successful interview. Ask questions. Be Prepared. Remember the five “P’s”, Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance .
Questions you can ask during the job interview include:
1. What happened to the previous employee or why is the position available?
The answer to this question will allow you to determine if the employee was promoted (This is a good sign, as it will indicate future opportunity if the company promotes from within.), did they move on (This will inidcate that you may have to dig deeper in your questioning to determine management style and corporate culture to determine “fit”.) , is it a newly created role or is the amount of turnover high in the position? for example: If the position has had five people in that role in the last four years this may be a red flag, especially if they are no longer with the company, it could signal management concerns or issues.
2. What type of training and support is provided once I am hired?
This question allows the company to share the tools they have in place to ensure your success once you are hired. The company should have a plan for new hires once they come onboard.
3. What is the management style of the (insert department, company, etc.) ?
The interviewers response will help you determine if you are just a worker bee or does the company culture support input allowing you to contribute concepts and ideas for growth and development of your role and the organizational goals.
4. Would you describe or paint a picture of the typical day in the role of a (insert job title)?
This question will allow the interviewer to provide a snapshot of the role and what you can expect. Look for defined, confident replies with specifics. Listen carefully, be sure that as they are speaking you are determining whether you can picture yourself in this job and working for this company.
5. What issues or challenges need to be faced within (insert the department, the role, the company)?
This question should reveal the “pain” they need to address regarding a project or a role and may open up the opportunity for you to share background, skills, or abilities that may assist in overcoming the various challenges they face and could give you a competitive edge in the hiring process if you can demonstrate how you can help.
6. How are expectations measured?
The answer to this question will allow you to get a sense of how your progress and success or failure will be evaluated to determine you how you will be reviewed in the future. Is this achievable? Is this process objective? Do they have ongoing development and training to ensure your success?
7. What are the next steps in the hiring process?
This question should be asked at the end of the interview. You will gain insight as to their processes for moving forward and you will be able to navigate your next steps for outreach and expectations. Typically, they should tell you how soon they are looking to fill the position, if you can expect a phone call or email update, how you should communicate with them in the future and any other information of value.
It is “ok” to ask questions. It is necessary! You are interviewing the organization just as much as they are interviewing you. Why? Because you need to also determine “fit”, to learn if this organization “fits” with your work style so that you can flourish and succeed and contribute in a productive and meaningful capacity.
