Asking questions in an interview has always been a skeptical approach for most job seekers we interact with. Many are actually surprised that we encourage them to come for interviews with questions about the role and the organization. It’s not a trick, we just love to engage with our candidates, and ensure they fully understand what they are setting themselves up for! It’s an equal win for both the employer and the employee. And while we’ve shared a couple of linked articles in the past on this topic, today, we’re sharing with you our top 3 favorite questions that we hope more job applicants would ask us and why they’re important.
1. What will be expected of me in the first 60 days?It’s critical that you anticipate and mentally prepare for the role’s expectations, especially during the first few weeks or probation period. This is usually a period where your abilities and contribution to the organization are still being assessed. Therefore, asking this question may prevent you from taking on a role whose expectations you can’t meet within a given timeline. It also shows that you’re enthusiastic about the position and are likely to hit the ground running.
2. What does success look like for this position and how will it be measured? Asking this question makes you aware of the position’s milestones and enables you to re-assess your ability to take on the position, and whether they are aligned to your career goals. Further, this question also shows the recruiter/hiring manager that you’re prepared to be accountable for the positions’ milestones and are not afraid of achieving them. It can also be an opportunity for the hiring manager to re-evaluate the clarity of the role during this conversation and identify any missing pieces.
3. What aspects of this job will be the most challenging? Receiving this information feeds into your decision-making process because it gives you an understanding of the roadblocks you’re likely to encounter and enables you to envision if you’ll be a good fit for the organization. Additionally, this can also be an opportunity for you to communicate your past experiences dealing with similar challenges, further proving your capability to succeed in the position.
Preparing for a job interview? Read our article about getting ready to succeed in an interview and nail your next interview!
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