“A job interview is not a test of your knowledge, but your ability to use it at the right time.”
You recently got a call for a job interview. You are nervous and do not know what to do, so you open a search engine for tips to ace the interview. Within less than a second, you have thousands of blogs and articles, with sample questions and everything at your fingertips. What an advantage of having technology at your disposal, but have you ever thought that the rest of the candidates are probably doing exactly the same thing as you are.
For instance, every single blog or article about acing the interview begins with research about the company and the job profile. Preparing a list of a sample yet generic questions, dressing appropriately, being on time, a checklist of the documents required for the meeting, and finally maintaining the confidence and belief in yourself. You have gone through these points again and again; you are all prepared for the interview and on time. Your interviewer appreciates your attitude, a pre-researched knowledge about the company, your skills but, yet you were not offered the position. Now let us reflect why.
Despite following every single step mentioned in the blog posts and articles, you wonder, where did your interview go downhill? Let us help you out here. It was those few seconds of silence when you were asked if you had any questions for the interviewer and you drew a blank, hesitated with an answer or just said no.
For a job interview to be successful, it has to be a two-way communication, i.e., while the interviewer checks if you are the right candidate for the organisation, it is also your chance to check if the company, the work culture and the job role is the right fit for you. So, when it is your turn to be the interviewer for a few minutes, you need to be smart with how you frame the questions and what to question.
See a few suggestions on how and what to ask during your interview.
1. Can you tell me more about the day to day responsibilities?
This is your chance to learn as much as possible about the role so you can decide whether this is a job you really want. By learning more about the day to day tasks, you will also gain more insight into what specific skills and strengths are needed and you can address any topics that have not already been covered. This also shows that you are interested and willing to learn more about the job which earns you extra cookie points.
2. What is the work culture of the company on a day to day basis?
This is your chance to probe for information not readily available from their website or literature. The interviewers are generally expecting such questions and thus, would be prepared with a positive and thorough answer of the matter. It also shows that you have done your thorough research and are genuinely interested in their organization. It also helps you decide if you are a good fit for this particular company and adapt yourself within the company culture and its dynamics.
3. What do you think are the most important skills and qualities for someone to excel in this role?
This is a safe choice question as you have already listed your experience and it is your chance to learn your interviewer’s perspective. This question can often lead to valuable information that is not in the job description. It can help you learn about the company culture. It also shows that you are still engaged and interested in knowing what they are looking for and value other’s perspectives as well.
4. What are the next steps in the interview process?
Even though this question sounds like you are over-confident, you are not. This question shows that you are eager to move forward in the process. It will also help you gain important information regarding the timeline for hiring so that you can follow up appropriately.
Do not miss the chance of getting to know more about the business is such an opportunity arises and most importantly try to keep the discussion flowing and engaging. The more rapport you can establish with the interviewer, the better your chances of moving ahead in the interview process.
ABL Recruitment team
