Why you should interview your interviewer 👩💼
Got an interview coming up?
“Do you have any questions?”
It might not be as dreadful as “What are your salary expectations?” or “Why should we hire you?” … but it is still one of the most important questions in an interview.
It’s easy to want to leave an interview as soon as you can for fear of messing it up, but asking questions at the end of an interview determines your likeability to be accepted.
Two reasons why you should interview your interviewer:
Showing your enthusiasm, curiosity, and engagement for the job
It’s your last chance to make a good impression!
(And doesn’t interviewing your interviewer sound cool and make you feel important?)
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, what should you ask at the end of an interview?
Roles and responsibilities
Ideally, you come to the interview all ready and prepared, armed with tons of research about your would-be roles and responsibilities.
Therefore, avoid asking something that can be easily answered by simple googling. This is your chance to explore your target roles deeper!
Here are some ideas to get you started:
What’s the biggest challenge of this role?
What can I do to excel in this position?
How would the day-to-day responsibilities of this role look like?
Is there anything that prevents you from hiring me? (This is a game-changer; sometimes it only takes a little nudge for the interviewer to hire you.)
Individual experience
Generally, we don’t like talking to robots. (Remember feeling impatience while waiting for an automatic answering machine to give you a number to press, so you could talk to a live agent on the phone?)
When you ask the interviewer about their personal experience, it shifts the angle of the conversation. You move away from the company and focus on personal experiences.
Prepare these handy questions:
What is your favorite part about working here?
How has this company helped you grow?
Can you tell me about the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your role?
The company culture
Aside from showing your enthusiasm, these types of questions help you determine whether you would fit and be happy in the company.
It’s your chance to find out about the opportunities for growth, the company’s benefits and perks, training, and mentorships.
Ask questions such as:
How is the work environment like?
What do the onboarding and training process look like?
Are there professional development opportunities offered by your company?
Thanks for being here. Interviews can be nerve-wracking sometimes, but here’s one thing to remember: An interview is a two-way conversation, not an investigation.
We wish you the best of luck on your next interview! 🙌