Preparing for an interview can be challenging. Attending one can even be more daunting, and most people are often anxious about the interview process. Interviews are an opportunity for you to learn more about a potential employer, their strengths, and how you can use your skills to further the company mission.
Worries about how the interview questions will be and what will happen after the interview are common, but that shouldn’t bother you. Instead, you want to work on enriching the process, equipping your interpersonal skills, and making every minute with the interview panel count.
That said, an interview should be a chat between two parties, trying to know and better understand each other.
When you walk into a job interview, asking thoughtful, probing questions that show interest in the company can make the difference between landing the job or getting a nice thank you note in the mail. Not only should the interviewer pose questions, but you, as an interviewee, should also contribute to the conversation.
The questions you ask should focus on what you need to know to fully evaluate the company and position. The right questions, can showcase your knowledge of the company and industry, and show that you have what it takes to excel in the position.
But what questions should you ask the interview panel? The following are questions you will want to consider asking during a job interview when you want a job offer.
Ask About the Company
Below are some questions that will showcase your interest and willingness to learn and grow with the company.
1. What’s different about working in this company? – You’ll get some insights about the competitive advantages of working with the company.
2. Who is your biggest business competitors, and why? – This shows that you see way beyond the paycheck, unlike most employees. It’s a sign that you’re more interested in winning for the company and taking its success to the next level.
3. What challenges have you faced as a company in the last few years, and what do you expect in the near future? – This is a great question if you’re applying for the top-level position. It sets you as a visionary, a potential change agent, and a problem solver.
4. How does the company measure success? – Does success mean an expanding client list? Is it client retention? Is it groundbreaking products? Determining how the company measures success will give you further insight into how the position supports those goals.
5. Does the company invest in professional development? – No one wants to work for a company that uses them for their skills then drops them when those skills become obsolete. This crucial question will let you know whether the company views employee development as a cornerstone of future success. It can also provide insight into whether the company promotes from within and cultivates a cadre of highly-skilled, long-term employees.
Ask About the Role
Before going for an interview, you want to do your research and learn about the role. To make sure your research is in sync with the job description, you may ask the following questions.
1. What are the characteristics of someone who is successful in this position? – This is a great question to ask anyone on the interview panel you may be working with or for, should you accept the position. Their answer can quickly let you know the qualities they value in a potential hire and can help you to learn more about the company’s culture and values.
2. Are there opportunities for professional development and a defined career track? – This is a key question for determining any opportunities for growth and whether the company has a learning and development program. Stagnation is a job killer, so make sure that there is a defined path to growth.
3. What are the position’s day-to-day duties? – This question allows the employer to expand on the job description. It also enables you to ask about specific job responsibilities. More importantly, it opens the door to discuss how your skills apply towards completing each task.
4. What projects are currently in progress? – Knowing the current status of projects allows you to understand the workload ahead. Also, depending on how they interview answers this specific question, it may get you more or less excited about the role. Again, this question creates a door to discuss how you can apply your skills to help the team complete the discussed projects.
5. Is this a new position? (Or, why did the last person leave?) – It is always a good sign if the company is expanding and creating new positions. Additionally, if someone has vacated the job, it’s helpful to know the reason(s) they left. Promotion, relocation, starting a family, etc., are all positive reasons to leave. However, if the answer is “wasn’t a good fit” or “left for a competitor,” these can be yellow flags.
6. What skills are you missing that you’re trying to fill with a new hire?
7. If I were to qualify for this job, who will I be working with, and what does it take to succeed?
8. What are some of the hurdles to expect in this job, and what would put me ahead of these challenges.
9. (Our personal favorite) Let’s say I started working here, and 12 months from now your manager asks what I accomplished over the past 12 months, how would you describe what I’ve done?
10. What type of projects do you anticipate over the next 6 months?
11. What question have I not asked that I should be asking?
12. What do you see as the greatest challenge the person you hire will face
13. What is most important to you, in the person you hire?
14. What are reasons you feel projects have failed or come in over budget?
15. I’m very interested in this opportunity and confident in my ability to do this job. However, the most important thing is what do you think. Do you feel I have the technical experience and culture fit to perform well in this job?
Ask About the Company/Corporate Culture
All companies or businesses have a culture or a set of norms. Below are some questions you can ask to learn more about the company culture.
1. How would you describe the company’s culture? – The company’s culture is most likely covered on their website, so in your question address that you read about it as you prepared for the interview. Use this question to springboard into more profound questions such as, “How does the company promote XYZ value?” It is a chance to gain a deeper insight into the company culture.
2. What gets you most excited about the company’s future? – This question gives you insight into your interviewer and their passion for the company and industry. It also gives you an opportunity to share what excites you about the company and industry.
3. What are the core principles making up your company/corporate culture?
4. What aspects do you value the most as an organization/business?
5. What are some of the common office traditions?
6. Do you conduct team or joint events in and outside the office?
Closing Comments
When compiling your questions, make sure to include questions about the job, training, professional development, measuring your performance, the company and your interviewer, the team you’ll be working with and the company culture. The more you know, the easier the decision!
Your interview is an opportunity to learn about the company and position, as well as determining if you’re a good fit for the position. Spend a little time preparing before your interview, and make the most of your time by asking great questions.
The above questions will guide you as your prepare to face any interview. Always remember to keep your cool and ask each question professionally. To boost your odds of success, you want to pay attention to the other interview tips that will help you make a great impression.
About nexus IT group
Try Googling best IT staffing agencies near me and you’ll see nexus IT group near the top of the page. Our IT staffing agency recruits top IT talent in large cities like Dallas, Kansas City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York City. If you have an immediate tech opening, or are a tech job seeker looking to advance your career, you’ve come to the right tech recruiting firm, contact nexus IT group. We have access to highly skilled, tech talent most recruiters can’t easily get in front of, so let our IT recruiting team show you why so many companies trust our staffing agency with their most important IT hires.
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