Questions recruiters WANT you to ask during an interview
Last Edited on: 23 March 2023
The day is finally here. You’re very well prepared. You’ve learned everything there is to know about the company. You suit up, say a prayer or two, buckle up your seat belt, and drive away toward the company that may decide the fate of your job search.
You arrive, give your interview (which went really well), and are driving back home.
On your way back, you sit and think, “Is there anything at all that I've done wrong?” And then it hits you. On being asked by the interviewer if there were any questions from your end, you said, “Nope, I’m good.”
Does that even matter? What if you really had no questions?
A very simple, straightforward answer to that is, YES, IT MATTERS.
An interview isn’t just an opportunity for the recruiter to interrogate you; it's also a chance for you to determine whether the position would be a good fit for you (your chance to use that list you made of questions to ask recruiters.)
Therefore, it's important to pose your own questions. It can be about anything, as long as it is relevant to the job and the position you’re seeking.
Note: Remember to read well about the company you’re going to. Read everything so well that you could answer a question in the middle of the night. Simply because they did not have enough understanding of the job role and what the company does, 47% of applicants are turned down.
Now, to get you going, we’ve listed below a few sets of questions to ask recruiters (we’re sure the person taking your interview would be amazed).
Questions to ask about the job:
1. Could you please elaborate on the daily duties of the position?
qualifications required and help you decide whether the position is a good fit for you.
If you receive the job offer, there won't be any surprises because the response will give you a sense of what the employer expects.
Asking this question has the side benefit of proving to the employer that you are genuinely interested in the job, which may improve your chances of being hired. (We wouldn't want to miss out on this wildcard now, would we). So when you’re thinking of questions to ask recruiters, this is one you don’t want to miss.
2. What are some of the challenges you expect the person in this position to face?
This can reveal details that you wouldn't learn from the job description provided; such as the fact that you'll have to deal with messy interdepartmental politics (ugh we sure would hate that), that the person you'll be teaming up with most closely is difficult to get along with (there’s always that one person), or maybe that you'll have to stick to the strictly limited funding for your programmed.
It can also give you a chance to describe how you've handled similar problems in the past, which will be definitely reassuring to your interviewer.
You can also think of it as an opportunity to very subtly flex your problem-solving skills.
3. What are the criteria for evaluating the candidate's performance in this role?
You might assume that the job description already covered this. But even if the job has significantly changed over the past ten years, it's not uncommon for an employer to still be using the same job description.
Companies frequently post job descriptions that are largely made up of formally written HR language, despite the fact that the actual manager has a very different point of view on what is most essential for the position.
The answer to this question will give you an exact overview of what the manager is expecting from the candidate who will be filling up this position, which is usually different from what that long 2-page job description says.
(The 360 degree is a tool for performance evaluation. Peers, superiors, clients, and the employee's manager are asked for their opinions on particular subjects in order to determine the employee's score. This feedback frequently provides a precise and thorough picture of an employee's performance, skill level, and areas for development.)
Questions to ask about the job:
1. Are there opportunities for training and progression in the company?
You can show the interviewer that you're serious about your career and committed to a future with the company by asking about opportunities available.
Asking this question will help you determine whether a long-term career with the company is a possibility or if you'd need to move on to expect more responsibility. You don't want to be stuck in a dead-end job (of course, nobody does), so if you're unsure of the typical career path for an individual in this role, asking this question will help you make that decision.
People committed to both personal and professional development are in high demand by effective companies. Convey to your potential employer how important additional training is to you in the job market.
2. What is the culture like here, in your opinion?
One thing you definitely want to know before joining any company is, what it would be like to go to work there every day. How does everybody go about with their day? Are there any regulations in place to promote the well-being of the employees at the company?
It’s a fair question that doesn't imply anything to your interviewer about the culture you hope the company will have.
You wouldn't directly enter and ask, "Do you guys have drinks on weekend nights?"
3. In the upcoming five years, where do you see the company going?
In addition to giving you a general idea of job security, this response will offer you insight into the company's growth plans and its position in the market. Moreover, you might learn about any major upcoming projects of the company.
Raising questions about future plans shows a sincere interest in the organization and validates your dedication to the business. It will also give you an idea as to what kind of goals you're expected to accomplish in what kind of time period.
(Note: In your list of questions to ask recruiters, make sure this is one of the first ones. Knowing where you will stand in the next 5 years is a crucial aspect of any job.)
Questions about the team
1. Can you give me more details about the team I'd be working with?
This will make it easier for you to understand the organizational structure, your boss, and your department. Since you'll be interacting with the team frequently, it's important to learn about their personalities and working styles.
(One of the worst mistakes you want to make on your very first day is to piss off somebody on your team.)
Depending on the answer, you might also have the chance to mention any experience you've had working in a team similar to theirs, just to give the employer one last example of how well you'll fit in if you get the job.
2. What are the team’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?
This will enable you to understand where the company is lacking, and how hiring you can be a solution to that.
The recruiter is interviewing you at the moment because he believes you have the potential to fill the gap in their company. It is your job to reassure them that you have what it takes to do it and that you would be a great asset to the company. This is your chance to use those skills you worked hard to develop and prove that you are capable of leading the company toward success.
(Try not to flex so hard that they recommend you to replace the CEO.)
Well, that’s about it. If you want to woo your interviewer, this is the way to go.
A few simple questions to remember in order to get that job you’ve been trying for since ages. Here’s your chance, go ahead and grab it.
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Catch you on the flippety-flip!