Questions To Ask In An Interview With A Hiring Manager
The hiring manager will typically be your supervisor or manager if youre chosen for the role youre applying for. They identify the needs, create the job descriptions, and work in sync with the HR department. Theyre also the ones who set expectations and processes for qualifications and interviews.
Asking a hiring manager questions at the end of the interview will guarantee that you learn more about the position you want.
5. Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
Choosing this as one of the questions to ask in an interview gives you the 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 havent already been covered.
6. What goals would you set for me over the next 6 months?
Youll want to look good in front of the hiring manager. Asking about what youll need to achieve in the first 6 months shows that youre results-driven and that youll prioritize the success of the company over your own. Its a great way to make a strong impression.
7. Do you expect the primary responsibilities of this role to change in the next six months to a year?
8. A year from now when youre looking back on this hire, what would I have done to exceed every expectation?
What Kind Of Work Environment Do You Like Best
The aim of this question is to assess whether youll fit in the companys working environment.
For example, some organizations are pretty structured and hierarchical, they require tight organization and have a well-planned day filled with rules and guidelines on how to do things.
If youre the creative, think-out-of-the-box type who likes to break the rules and innovate, this is probably not going to cut it for you.
On the other hand, some companies are more laid back, with a lot less bureaucracy. Go get us more sales can actually be your main duty for the week if youre working in an early stage startup.
If youre the type who prefers to have strict to-dos and objectives, you probably wont enjoy such a job.
So, the takeaway? Different people work best in different environments, and thats okay.
Before you go to the interview, go through the companys website and social media pages to get a sense of the general vibe and environment there.
Look at employee reviews on GlassDoor, or if you know someone already working there, ask them.
Depending on what you learn, answer accordingly.
- Sample Answer 1:
I work best in smaller companies. I really dislike the corporate world – rules, guidelines, SOPs, and so on. I perform best when I have a certain level of freedom to do things. Want to find innovative solutions to problems you didnt even know you had? Im your guy.
Want someone to just blindly follow instructions and do what theyre told? Then wed probably not be a good fit.
How Quickly Do You Adapt To New Technology
Today, whether youre applying for a software engineering job, or as a cashier in a supermarket, youre going to need to use technology at least on some level.
Its very common for a company to adopt new tech – new point of service system, self check-out kiosks, customer management software, and whatever else.
So, you should be able to pick up new tech ASAP. Any new change shouldnt completely disrupt your work.
So, when answering this question, you should talk about how tech-savvy you are.
Im pretty tech-savvy. Ive worked with a lot of different Point of Service systems so far, and have zero difficulties learning how to use new ones.
As a given, I own a PC, have used Office 365, and all the usual stuff.
- Sample Answer 2:
Ive always been interested in tech. In fact, Im the type of person to actively seek out new software to help solve business problems at work.
Ive worked with 3 different Customer Management Software in the past, such as PipeDrive, SalesForce, and Zoho CRM.
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How To Ask For A Job Interview
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
One of the most important and challenging stages of a job search is securing an in-person interview. When done correctly, asking directly can be one of the most effective methods for landing an interview with a hiring manager. If you are looking for a way to increase your chances of getting an interview, you might benefit from knowing when and how to request an interview. In this article, we will discuss when you ask for an interview, how you should ask and how to effectively prepare for the interview after it is offered.
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Provide All Essential Details
Your applicant will need to know the interview’s date and time, but they may need to know additional details. You should provide information on any tasks you ask them to do, including presentations. Provide information on the interview’s length and, if you wish, details on the interview structure â whether it’s a panel interview, a 1-to-1 discussion, or a presentation, for example. Ensure you leave nothing out.
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How Do You Deal With Pressure Or Stressful Situations
If youre applying for a high-stress job, youre guaranteed to get asked this question.
The aim of this question is to see if youre the type of person whod survive working at the job, or fall through the cracks when the first signs of trouble show up.
Obviously, you wouldnt answer with the following
Well, I end up having a panic attack, crying, and running away from work.
Instead, answer as follows
- Say that yes, you do tend to perform well during stressful situations
- Give 1-2 examples of a situation where you had to perform well under pressure
Now, lets go through some real-life examples:
- Sample Answer 1:
Though I cant particularly say I enjoy stressful situations, I AM very good at working under pressure.
During chaos and panic, I tend to take a step back, think, plan, and prioritize.
For example, there have been times Ive had to juggle multiple university projects and assignments at the same time. I would break up large assignments into small, individual tasks, and prioritize based on:
- How fast I could complete each task
- Figuring out which task would take the longest
- Which project had the earliest deadline
This way, my work became a lot more manageable. The most times I had to experience such situations, the better I performed overall.
- Sample Answer 2:
I actually prefer working under pressure. I look at it as a challenge – a situation where I really have to up my game to succeed.
What Are Your Leadership Experiences
Even if youre not directly interviewing for a management role, you may face some leadership interview questions.
Employers like a candidate who can take initiative and lead projects and tasks even if its not their main role to lead. Plus, that shows youve got room to grow and can be promoted in the future.
So before any interview, think about one or two recent leadership experiences, ideally from work situations. Did you lead any meetings or projects? Did you train or mentor anyone? Did you spearhead a new initiative at work?
If you have no examples from work, then look to university experience, sports, or other clubs/activities where you led a project, task, meeting, or event.
Note that you may also be asked, what is your leadership style? but this is typically reserved for positions where youll be leading as a core part of your role.
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Asking For A Job: Dont’s
- Come on too strong. Again, there are environments where an aggressive, Do I have the job? will work. But in most non-sales positions, putting the hiring manager on the spot is not the way to get an offer. You want to persuade them that youre the best candidate, not insist on getting the job. Entitlement is not a good look, especially when youre trying to land a job.
- Ask for more than you offer. You want a lot from the hiring managerdetails about the process, guidance about how to make your case, and ultimately, a job offer. To keep things on an even footing, you should offer as much as youre asking for. Volunteer more information about your skills. Offer references and recommendations. Keep the interaction a two-way street.
- Follow up so hard, youre verging on stalker territory. Send a thank-you note or email within 24 hours of your interview, and follow up at the interval that seems appropriate, given what the interviewer has told you about the hiring process. But dont besiege your contact with emails and calls. Hounding an employer will almost never result in a job offer.
How To Invite A Candidate For Interview By Phone
Communicating with candidates by phone makes your approach more personable. But, when your purpose is to schedule an interview, phone calls can create confusion. People may forget what was said if they were in a hurry or didnt take notes. Also, candidates may feel uncomfortable taking this type of call if theyre at work.
Email is more convenient and allows you to provide details about your interview process. State your purpose and your companys name in the subject line to ensure that candidates will open your email.
After your initial email, you could send a text to confirm candidates appointments or send them directions to your offices.
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If You Were A Tree What Kind Of Tree Would You Be And Why
You might ask this bizarre Walgreens question to test your candidate’s creativity. However, ideally your candidate’s answer will give you insight into her strengths related to the role, and what kind of person she is.
Your ideal candidate should say something like this, “I would be an oak tree, because I’m strong and dependable.” Of course, it doesn’t matter what tree she chooses — as long as she uses her answer as an opportunity to show you why she’s a good fit for the position.
Why Is There A Gap In Your Work Experience
In most cases, a gap in your work experience doesnt really mean anything. You probably have a very good reason for it.
The interviewer, however, will definitely ask about it, and you should answer adequately.
Theres no secret sauce to answering this question, just let the recruiter know about your situation, whatever that may be:
- Maternity leave
- Caring for a sick family member
- Time off to pursue further education
- Relocating to a different city
- Working on a personal project
Whichever the case may be, just explain the situation in brief and move on.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that if you were laid off at work, or you quit and had trouble getting a new job, you should be very subtle about it.
If the interviewer knows that youre struggling to find a job, youre going to give them the upper hand in salary negotiations.
I had a baby and had to take maternity leave.
- Sample Answer 2:
My father was sick, so I had to be the one to take care of him full-time over a few months.
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Ask For An Informational Phone Call Or Meeting
The first step is to find out which person to contact. If you do not know anyone who works for the company, use social media platforms or the company’s website to find out the name of the employee who best suits your purpose. If you do not want to contact them via social media, you could call the company’s general contact number and ask the receptionist if they are allowed to send you the email address you need.
Once you have an employee’s contact information, ask them politely for their help or assistance. Phrases like “I would love it if you could help by offering me some career advice,” or “I am hoping you will be able to help me answer some questions” will let the employee know they would be doing you a favor. You will need to be very specific in your request so that your contact knows exactly what to expect. Ask for a meeting at a particular time and location, and tell your contact precisely what sort of questions you will be asking.
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If You Were In My Shoes What Attributes Would You Look For In Hiring For This Role
NerdWallet co-founder and CEO Tim Chen recently shared his takeaways from navigating the shift from first-time founder to seasoned exec on the Review, which surfaced some particularly interesting insights on hiring, including how hes revamped his approach to interviewing execs and the surprisingly honest reason why he interviewed every single person up until the NerdWallet team reached 200 people.
And when we followed up with him to get his favorite interview question, he surfaced yet another intriguing tactic: asking what the candidate would look for if they were on the other side of the table.
Some of the attributes they list off are surprising, says Chen. It helps you think about the role in a different way. Ive also found that candidates tend to highlight their own strengths, so it gives you a window into who they are. You can also get a sense of whether theyre good at breaking nebulous problems, like hiring, into the key drivers.
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What Can I Tell You About Working Here
A few years back at our CTO Summit, Kellan Elliott-McCrea gave an incredible talk on how Etsy grew their number of female engineers by 500% in one year So we werent surprised that his take on interviewing was similarly deep and insightful.
The former SVP of Eng at Blink Health and Etsy CTO finds that the fundamental model we use to interview within the tech industry is wrong. It assumes we’re panning a stream of high performing technical specialists for a few gems.This may have been true once upon a time, but it isn’t the world we live in anymore, says Elliott-McCrea. Software is a straightforward technical project, but a difficult social, cultural and operational one.
Heres his take on what interviewers should focus on instead:
Treating the interview as a collaboration to make sure that the role is a good fit is the first priority. Making sure the candidate has a positive experience is the second priority. Everything else is a nice-to-have.
What Are The Three Most Important Characteristics Of This Function How Would You Stack Rank Yourself From Strongest To Least Developed Among These Traits
When Jack Krawczyk is hiring for WeWorks Product team, hes hunting for candidates that have both a deep understanding of the function they’re in and an appreciation for the spots in which they still need to grow.
I use this question when hiring product managers, but it can work for other functions, he says. Ive found that it forces the candidate to be introspective and provide examples of how theyre a student of their craft.
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+ Interview Questions And Answers
The time has come!
After creating a killer resume and cover letter and passing the first round, it is time to face the final challenge:
Your job interview.
And that scares even to the best of us.
Being judged and evaluated by people who have your future in their hands is more anxiety-inducing than meeting the in-laws.
Youve heard the interviewers and hiring managers say there are no right or wrong answers to calm you down before an interview.
But heres the thing:
They are almost always looking for a specific way of answering.
Which brings us to this guide. Were going to cover the most common interview questions and answers, turning you into a bona fide interview expert by the time youre done reading.
So, lets get started!
To make this guide as practical as possible, we covered just about every interview question out there.
Dont let that put you off, though. You dont have to read the whole thing end-to-end. To get the most out of the guide, wed recommend:
- Give an example of how you have handled a challenge in the workplace before.
- Give an example of when you performed well under pressure.
- Give an example of when you showed leadership qualities.
Formal Interview Invitation Email
Every recruiting email you send should adhere to your employer brand voice and tone. If casual conversations are not your style or you are corresponding with more experienced executive candidates, use the following template to formally invite a candidate to interview.
Subject Line: : Invitation to Interview
Dear ,
Thank you for your application to the role at .
We would like to invite you to interview for the role with , . The interview will last in total.
Please reply to this email directly with your availability during the following date and time options:
We look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
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