When preparing for an interview, it’s a best practice to prep a few questions for the interviewer. It’s hard to think of what to ask. You think to yourself, “it’s their job to be asking the questions, right?” Wrong. You get to ask. And you should! So, where do you start? We break it down to the 4 Cs: Connect, Culture, Challenges, and Close.
CONNECT
To stand out and build rapport with the interviewer, it’s important to connect with them at the start of your questioning. Ask them something about themselves you learned on their LinkedIn page or research company facts and ask a question clarifying information about the fun fact to showcase your research. Some connector questions could be:
- I saw [company name] increased revenue by [$$] in [# of months/years]. How did the team manage that so quickly?
- On LinkedIn, I saw that you participate in public speaking events or webinars. How often do you perform? Or, how did you get started doing that?
- I understand [company name] won the [accolade] award last year for [accomplishment]. Can you walk me through the steps you took to reach that goal?
These questions will impress them and help the interviewer to feel more comfortable as they start talking about themselves and their work. Everyone loves to talk about themselves and they tend to relax when they do so. A sign of a great interview is one where both parties feel at their best!
CULTURE
When searching for a position, you’ll need to consider that you’ll be working with a whole new team at a new company. You’ll want to know what the work environment will be like, what the team will be like, and how everyone works together. To get that inside information, ask:
- Do you participate in or host professional development courses, conferences, workshops etc.?
- Does the company organize team-building events?
- Can you tell me a little bit more about the team I’d be working with?
- How long have you been with the company?
- How are accomplishments measured/celebrated?
- What are the active business hours in the office?
It’s important to know if the team operates on flexible hours, if they care about celebrating wins, how they handle it when you come across an area that needs improvement, and how your career will develop with the company. They want to know you’re in this for long haul!
CHALLENGES
They’re hiring for a reason! They have a problem or a list of tasks they don’t want to do themselves, so they want to pay someone else to take care of it. You’ll want to know the challenges they’re expecting their candidate to handle after they’re hired. The answer to this question can also help you develop a 90-day plan to present to them, to further show that you’re the perfect fit for this position.
- What are the biggest challenges of this position?
- What are the 3 biggest concerns you’d like addressed within the first 90 days?
- What are the 3 most common questions clients ask?
- Can you tell me the biggest challenge someone in this position faces regularly?
- What are some traits someone in this position needs in order to overcome the challenges of the job and to be successful here?
If you can get solid answers to these questions, you’ll have a better understanding of your day-to-day responsibilities, as well as how you can shine at your new company in the first 90 days. You’ll want to come into the company as prepared as possible, with an understanding of what’s expected of you.
CLOSE
A good close works for everything, especially in interview questioning. Leave them knowing that you’re interested! You’ll want to end your line of questioning with the last, and most important, question: what next?
- What are the next steps?
- When can I expect to hear from you?
- When can I follow up?
Never leave an interview without knowing next steps. You’ll be twiddling your thumbs enough as it is! Don’t add to the stress of the wait by not finding out when it’s appropriate to follow-up. Ask the question, then add a reminder on your phone. The sooner you follow up, the sooner you’ll have your answer.
We hope you feel better prepared, but we know you’ve got this! We wish you luck on your job search. Take a look at our current job listings at pdxMindShare!
