Looking for a new role can be exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure. It’s the start of a new journey and whether you’re looking to take the next step in your career, or you have decided on a complete career change, being prepared for the interview is essential.
It’s not just about what your time keeping, how you present yourself or what you wear, if you really want to put yourself ahead of the competition, you need to stand out.
Recruiters will be interviewing several candidates for the role you are applying for, and they won’t just be looking at experience and qualifications, they will be looking at the candidates as a whole.
But there’s one important thing to remember. An interview is also an opportunity for you. You are not just there to compete for a job, you are also there to find out more about the organisation. The interview process works two ways.
Let’s talk about questions. We don’t mean the questions you will be asked but the ones you will asking. Any good recruiter will end the interview by asking you if you have any questions.
Do not say no.
Saying no to an interviewer shows them that you are not as interested in the role or the company as other candidates may be. It says that you haven’t done your research and perhaps you are there just because you felt you should be rather than you want to be.
If you don’t ask any questions, you are missing out on a great opportunity for these two reasons.
> You won’t be showing your enthusiasm for the role
> You will leave the interview without really getting to know who it is you could be working for.
In this blog, we will explore our 5 best questions every candidate should be asking at their interview.
1 – Can you tell me how an average day in the role would look? What are the day to day responsibilities?
This question is powerful. It shows the interviewer that you are looking further than the job description. You want to know exactly what’s involved and ultimately, what it’s like to work for them. You are interested, you could be invested, and you are giving them an opportunity to sell the job to you.
2 – What is the culture of the organisation?
This is an extremely important question. This will either stump the interviewer or they will answer with great enthusiasm. You will be able to gage whether the organisation fits with your own personality. Whether or not they share the same values of you and, it will be an eye-opener as to whether this is the right role for you in the long run.
3 – Are there any opportunities to further my training or progression within the organisation and if so, how does that look?
Possibly the most important question you can ask because not only are you showing that you could be in it for the long run, but you are also telling them that you are looking for a career, not just a job and it gives them the chance to sell you a future. You will be able to establish how organised they are, how they value their staff and whether you will be able to build an exciting future there.
4 – Where do you see the company in five years’ time?
Now you are really turning the tables. It’s possible that you will have been asked this very same question and now it’s your turn. You need to know if this company is viable. Will they still be in business in the next few years and importantly, this will be a great follow on from the last question you asked. If they have told you that there are opportunities to develop, this question gives them the chance to go into detail about how that looks. They will be impressed with this one.
5 – Is this a new role or will I be replacing another member of staff?
This question will lead to another. If they tell you that it’s a new role, you can enquire about their vision of that role and why they concluded it was needed. This will back up their five-year plan because it could mean they are expanding and moving forward.
However, if you are replacing another member of staff, you could follow it on by asking about the team you will be working in which will establish whether they will be welcoming or you will struggle to replace a popular team member and, what were their reasons for leaving? That’s a great way to establish if this a role you will fit into nicely.
Many candidates are scared to ask questions because they feel it makes them look presumptuous, but the opposite is true. It shows that you have done your research, you are excited and genuine about your desire to work for them, and they will appreciate that.
If an interviewer walks away feeling like they have been the one who has been interviewed, you have set yourself up perfectly to be in the running for the job.
Good luck!