The Big Interview
Looking for a new job can seem tough and stressful. However, it can also be very exciting. Let’s say you apply for a job and land an interview, what’s next? You’re probably nervous and that’s ok! If you think the hiring manager should be asking all the questions then you can kiss that job goodbye. I’m going to give you questions you should ask in a job interview.
So, you’ve applied to countless jobs and finally landed an interview to that job you’ve been searching for forever. You found the perfect interview outfit and furthermore prepped for all sorts of questions. Like – Where do I see myself in five years? Why do I want this job? What are my top strengths? What are my top weaknesses? What would those around me say about me? Etc. You have answers prepared and are certainly ready to go. But wait! What are you going to ask them in return? Here are questions, in contrast, you should ask based on who is interviewing you.
Hiring Manager Questions
• How long have you been with the company?
• What roles have you had in the company before this?
• How does the company operate? I.e. business segments, etc (If external)
• What characteristics are you looking for in a candidate?
• How is the work life balance like for this role?
• Describe what the average day looks like for this role?
• How is your management style?
• What is the biggest challenge for this role?
Peer Panel Questions
• Who are the key business partners you work with?
• What does the average day look like in this role?
• What is your current workload like?
• Do you feel you have support from upper management?
• Name your favorite thing about this role?
• What is the work environment like?
• What types of roles have you had before this role?
Executive Level Questions
• Can you describe the company culture?
• How is your management style?
• How long have you been at the company?
• Who do you report to?
• What do you foresee as the biggest problem to solve?
• Can you list characteristics of someone who is successful at this company?
• Can you list characteristics of someone who is not successful at this company?
• Can you describe what our working relationship would be?
Knowing Your Audience
If you’re interviewing for a corporate role, these are all great questions based on your audience. However, you must know a bit of background info on your audience first. If someone schedules an interview, but doesn’t give you any details, ask them what role the interviewer has. It’s always ok for you to ask some preliminary questions just to be prepared. These are questions, consequently, that will help you understand how you’ll fit into the role and the company culture as a whole. Finally, use them as guidelines and it’s ok to improvise where necessary. There’s a good chance that these questions will ultimately lead to other questions as well.
What about you? What are some questions you always ask while being interviewed? Drop me a note via the contact form here, on social media or in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you! Follow Boss Gal on Instagram and Facebook and don’t forget to subscribe to have all the best sent directly to your email by clicking here!
