You’ve made it to the interview, and you’ve prepared for all the questions they are supposedly going to ask you. You go in confident, chest up, and smiling for what feels like forever. They start asking you questions about your background and life stories to illustrate your unique character. You dabble into your past work experiences and personal events that define your leadership skills and qualities that make you a perfect fit for the position. The interview is almost over, and then they ask you the last question you forgot: Do you have any questions for me?
This is your window of opportunity that you really do not want to miss. Participating in the interview is one factor, but what distinguishes candidates from the others is when they actively participate with the interviewee by asking them questions. This demonstrates your sincere interest in the position and illustrates that you’ve done your homework on the company and the position offered.
Regardless if you are more of an extrovert or introvert, there are various questions you can ask in your following interview. Before jotting all of these down, make sure you are comfortable asking the questions you have chosen; otherwise, your successful interview could quickly become awkward. Ending your interview as confident as you were, in the beginning is an essential element to a successful interview. They will remember your self-assurance when discussing who they want to hire.
9 questions to ask the interviewer:
- How would you describe the general culture of the company and the workplace?
- Why did you choose this company?
- Will there be any form of training provided?
- What are some of the biggest challenges/successes facing the department currently?
- What process will be used to evaluate my employee performance?
- Who will be my direct supervisor?
- Are there many opportunities for professional development within the company?
- What is the usual time frame for making the hiring decision?
- May I contact you if any further questions arise?
Many candidates take the wrong path and ask inappropriate questions in their first interview. As tempting as benefits and salary information is to know upfront, that should only be discussed after you have been offered the position. Plus, you will be in a better position to negotiate anyway. Not jumping ahead is essential because you should be focused on having a great and memorable first interview to be called in for a second.
The interview process can be your best introduction to the company. By developing an intrapersonal connection with the interviewee by simply reciprocating in the dialogue, you can stand out among the other candidates. The more comfortable you are, the more comfortable they are, and you will appreciate the gesture in reciprocating the dialogue. Remember, this is your opportunity to obtain further information regarding the position and the company you could not get while researching online, so take advantage of this opportunity and ensure it is the right position for you.
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Author: Debbie Lawrence is a content editor who primarily writes for an online schooling blog. You can contact me with any suggestions, questions, or comments on Twitter here.
