The 13 questions a candidate should always ask during an interview

The questions that you will ask during the interview are

as important than the ones you will answer.

The Interview is your opportunity to prove that you are the person that can solve the problem for the company you

have applied to.

YOU ARE THE SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEMS.

Remember, companies don’t hire people; they hire solutions to challenges and keys to opportunities. Your job at the interview is to demonstrate how and why you are the best solution to either their biggest challenge or the

key to unlocking their greatest opportunity…

A great way of demonstrating Value to the organisation is to engage the interviewer at a deeper level than simply

responding to their questions; when you show you have the confidence and interest to ask great questions yourself, the interviewer will recognize that you are different and worthy

of consideration…

Preparation for the interview is a must and preparing compelling questions will

make you stand out from the other candidates.

 These questions will also:

Tell you what you need to know about the company & determine if it is a good fit for you.

Show that you did some research on the firm, which is the proof of your interest

Provide you substance for answering the question of the interviewer

Help you to spot the doubts of the hiring managerShow your technical expertise, your strong knowledge of the business environment & your general culture at

some pointTurn the interview into a discussion between to professional, you will be perceived as a solution provider and not a simple candidate answering

questions 

Why is the position open and how long was the last person at this

position?

You need to know the context of this recruitment.If the answer is light and needs more development,

do not hesitate to ask for more.

The question can seem ruthless, but knowing this information will help you avoid a potentially really

bad situation.

What would be the perfect candidate for you?

(We are talking about educational background, experiences, languages spoken, personality, etc…)The answer will provide you important information. You will have the opportunity to integrate them in your speech. When you will reformulate, by using

the same words the manager used, you will be able to make them resonate in his head and make him

feel you clearly understood his expectations.

What do you expect me to achieve the first 30, 60 and 90 days?

This is gold!You are showing that you understand that time is

money and that you are here to succeed. This question will help the manger to project you in the position, the more he can visualise you doing the job, the more you increase your chances. On your

side, you will have a clear understanding of his expectations towards you and decide if you would

be ready to endorse these responsibilities. This question definitely leads to another level of

discussion that other candidate may not have with the manager.

What are the major strengths and weaknesses of my application?

You are asking for a direct feedback and you are totally right!

It is a powerful question demonstrating a lot of confidence and an open mind to criticism.

Now that you know your strengths, you will continue to play them up till the end of the process (useful information during the salary negotiation). On the opposite you will correct some misinformation or

explain him that this weakness will not be an obstacle to your success.

What is the biggest challenge of this position?

You are showing that you are here to get results. Use this moment to highlight the competences that

will help you overcome this challenge.

How would you describe a typical day in this position?

Critical information here! First you will have the opportunity to get insights

whether or not you really want to work there. Sometimes you will realise that a task is way

bigger/smaller than mentioned. Second, it will give you big clues about what the

most important tasks in this position are, helpful to tailor your speech and more effectively sell yourself.

Where do you think your team or service need improvement today?

And how my position will contribute to it?

A bit of seniority and self confidence is required for this one.

This one shows interest and the will to have a global picture. Another occasion to sell yourself on a

different topic.

How do you plan to deal with ….

Thanks to your pre-interview preparation you did, you spotted the present challenges of the industry

and the specific one that the company is facing today.

A SWOT analysis would be the foundation of this question.

Once again the opportunity to have other level of discussion with spokesperson.

How would you describe your management style?

You know how important the management is.

As they say: Don’t pick a job, pick a boss!

This question will help you to take your decision.

Where does this position fit in the long-term goal of the

company?

Let’s define the purpose of this job, his security and its potential.

Talking about business strategy will give you another chance to sell yourself.

.

What do you like about working for this company?

A question that can be surprising for the manager but that will give you insights

about the culture of the company and his approach as your potential future boss.

Based on what we discussed today, do you think I am someone who can meet the

challenge of this position?

Yes, you just asked for the job. Nice move.

It is a difficult question to ask. It is bold and pushy but you have to understand

that being assertive and honest in asking for the job is what gets people hired.

Don’t wait, ask for it and take it. This is how it is done.

I am looking for a position like yours, when can I expect to hear

from you?

Sometimes candidates are embarrassed to ask this bold question, but managers are waiting for you to

ask it. It is a clear demonstration of your interest and

leadership.Plus it is mandatory to always define the next step

during an interview.

Many of them will be answered without even you asking during the discussion and for the rest you will have to wait for the manager asking you ‘do you have any questions’.

These questions will give you the edge over the other candidate plus you will leave the

room with all the information and most of all the ability to determine if this is the position

you are looking for.MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

Thank you for reading!

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