What Was The Last Thing You Nerded Out On
Shawne Ashton, VP of Growth at mindbodygreen levels this one at candidates as a final question. It helps me get a sense of whether this person is a life-long learner, self-starter, naturally curious, and able to teach themselves new things they’re interested in, she says. By emphasizing that it doesnt need to be work related, I find that I also get to know the person a bit more beyond their direct job experience, and it ends the interview on a fun note.
Upstarts Head of Strategy and Partner Operations Cindy Smith asks a similar question, with a slight twist: Tell me about a topic that youve taken it upon yourself to learn about. I want to hear them talk about something theyve received no formal training on, says Smith. It shows curiosity, tenacity around learning and it helps me gauge how a person tackle hard topics and new challenges.
Do You Have Any Questions
This might be one of the most important questions asked during the interview process because it allows you to explore any topics that havent been addressed and shows the interviewer youre serious about the role. Remember that you are interviewing the company too. Take time to ask the interviewer questions about their own experiences with the company, gain tips on how you can succeed if hired and address any lingering questions you have. Some examples include:
- What do you love most about working for this company?
- What would success look like in this role?
- What are some of the challenges people typically face in this position?
- How important is it that you hire someone with XYZ qualities?
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Do you have any hesitations about hiring me?
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Tell Me About The Best And Worst Bosses Youve Ever Had Specifically In Your Career What Was The Difference
As the CEO of Foursquare, Jeffrey Glueck finds that candidates arent usually prepared for this question. They often reveal what makes them tick through their answers, he says. While the best one is interesting for picking up insight on how to get the most growth out of them, I often find that the worst boss answer is more interesting. You might learn that they react strongly to micromanagement, are fiercely independent, or are very individual comp focused.
The key is pushing candidates to get specific. Dont let them off with vague answers, says Glueck. They dont have to name names, of course, but you need to insist they talk about two specific bosses at specific companies, not generalizations.
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What Can We Expect From You In Your First Three Months
Ideally the answer to this should come from the employer: They should have plans and expectations for you.
But if you’re asked, use this general framework:
- You’ll work hard to determine how your job creates value — you won’t just stay busy, you’ll stay busy doing the right things.
- You’ll learn how to serve all your constituents — your boss, your employees, your peers, your customers, and your suppliers and vendors.
- You’ll focus on doing what you do best — you’ll be hired because you bring certain skills, and you’ll apply those skills to make things happen.
- You’ll make a difference — with customers, with other employees, to bring enthusiasm and focus and a sense of commitment and teamwork.
Then just layer in specifics that are applicable to you and the job.
Where Do You See Yourself In The Next 5 Years
An ambitious professional with a clear set of goals for the short, medium, and long term, is an invaluable asset to the company. This is true especially if they parallel their career growth with the company they are interviewing at.
As they grow professionally and financially, the company grows and expands too.
During the interview, confident job seekers will discuss that they seek a company with upward mobility as they help the company prosper.
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What Interests You About This Role
Hiring managers often ask this question to ensure you understand the role and give you an opportunity to highlight your relevant skills. Study the job description carefully and compare its requirements to your skills and experience. Choose a few responsibilities you particularly enjoy or excel at and focus on those in your answer.
Example answer:While I highly valued my time at my previous company, there are no longer opportunities for growth that align with my career goals. This position fits perfectly with my skill set and how Im looking to grow in my career. Im also looking for a position at a company like yours that supports underserved communities, which is a personal passion of mine.
Read more: Interview Question: Why Are You Interested in This Position?
Interviews Aren’t Just About Giving The Right Answersthey’re About Asking The Right Questions
Ask insightful, thorough questions to your potential employer.
The landscape for job seekers today can be difficult. In other words, if you want a job today, the hard work starts when you prepare for the interview. That means not just nailing the interview questions you are asked, but actually knowing which questions to ask in an interview so that you leave a strong impression on hiring managers. After all, youre reviewing them as much as theyre reviewing you. The right questions to ask during an interview are the ones that will not only elicit important information, but will also reflect positively on you as a candidate.
Heres the thing: Rattling off a list of haphazard queries wont get you much attention. You need to come up with good questions to ask in an interview, ones that make the people in the room sit up and take notice. Your questions must demonstrate that you did your homework on the job itself, have a set of values that are shared with the company, and understand where the industry is headed. Bonus: These questions could also help you avoid a bad boss before it’s too late.
Your goal is to make a statement in the form of a question. The statement is designed to:
- Highlight your qualifications.
- Understand the employers challenges.
- Make yourself accountable.
- Advance your candidacy.
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What Is The Last Question That I Should Ask Before Leaving An Interview
Before leaving, the final question that you should ask is when youre likely to hear back from the panel on the outcome of the interview. This simple question will show the interviewer that you are keen to pursue the role after meeting with the panel and learning more about the position.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, for more useful tips on how to prepare for your interview, make sure you visit the career advice section of our website.
Common Interview Questions And Answers
Preparing talking points for common interview questions can help you feel confident and prepared. While every interviewer is different and their questions may vary depending on the job and industry, there are a few common questions you can expect and prepare for such as, “Tell me about yourself.”
Below, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of commonly-asked interview questions including what interviewers are looking for in your response, plus example answers to help you make a great first impression.
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Is It Better To Be Perfect And Late Or Good And On Time
If your candidate responds with “It depends,” hear them out — the interview question itself is phrased in such a way that candidates can sense there is a right and wrong answer, and they’ll be looking for signs from you that they’re heading in the right direction.
A good answer to this question:
For most companies, the correct answer is “good and on time.” It’s important to let something be finished when it’s good enough. Let’s face it, every blog post, email, book, video, etc. can always be tweaked and improved. At some point, you’ve just got to ship it. Most managers don’t want someone who can’t hit deadlines because they’re paralyzed by perfection.
Try to remain neutral as they feel out their response, though. They might not be able to relate to work that’s measured purely by quality and deadline, but it’s important that they can express how they prioritize their tasks.
Name A Work Accomplishment That Makes You Proud
With this line of interview questioning, you will learn about the job seeker in more depth and get a better idea of the types of work they have achieved from their previous and current company.
This also gives the interviewee an opportunity to showcase some of their strongest qualities and any leadership skills they may have.
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Where Do You Think The Company Is Headed In The Next Five Years
The response you receive will give you an insight into the company’s progression plans and its place in the market, while giving you a general idea about job security. You may also get a heads-up on any major upcoming projects.
Asking about future plans shows a real interest in the organisation and reiterates your commitment to the company.
When Was The Last Time You Changed Your Mind About Something Important
For Sarah Fetter, Managing Director of East Rock Capital, this interview question is all about evolution.
It allows you to see how and if the candidate’s belief system or set of core values has changed. How did a powerful experience or impactful person shift the candidates worldview? she says. Follow up with more questions to find out what they felt before, during and after the experience of being challenged that will tell you a great deal.
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Questions About Your Supervisors And Co
What They Want to Know: Did you get along with your manager? Have you worked with difficult colleagues? How you interact with supervisors and co-workers will provide the interviewer with insight into your interpersonal and communication skills.
I think I get along well with both my manager and my colleagues, because I approach everyone with respect. When issues arise, I try to ask for clarification and find points of agreement we can use to resolve differences of opinion.
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What Is Something You’d Be Happy Doing Every Single Day For The Rest Of Your Career
While it’s important to hire for skill, it’s also important to hire someone who’s likely to be happy in the job for which you’re hiring. A question like this one will help uncover what makes each candidate happy at work — which is a great way to gauge whether they’d enjoy their role and stay at the company for a long time.
A good answer to this question:
There’s no right answer to this question — it’s more of a learning opportunity for you to see what your employees most enjoy in the industry. Nonetheless, a candidate’s answer to this question should align with the core responsibilities of the job for which they’re applying.
A sales candidate who says they could lead client kickoff meetings every day, for example, is a much better fit than a sales candidate who prefers to create lead-generating campaigns .
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Can You Tell Me More About The Department Or Team I Would Be Working In
This question not only gives you information about who you will report to when hired, but it also helps you understand the way the company is structured and the role you will have. Because your team includes the people you will work most closely with, you should gain a thorough understanding of the team dynamic and their working methods.
Can You Tell Me About A Time When You Had A Disagreement With A Boss Or Colleague And How You Handled The Situation
This is one of the best questions to ask an interviewee because youll get a sense of their conflict resolution abilities. What tone does the person use when talking about the other people involved? Were they able to handle the situation described appropriately? Did they find common ground? Emotional intelligence is keenly needed in almost every job.
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What To Ask During A Job Interview
It’s your turn! As your job interview comes to a close, one of the final questions you may be asked is, “What can I answer for you?” Your interviewer will expect for you to have some questions.
Not asking any questions could make you seem unprepared or disinterested, so take the time to have some questions of your own ready to ask the hiring manager.
Plan ahead and have interview questions of your own ready to ask the interviewer.
You aren’t simply trying to get this jobyou are also interviewing the employer to assess whether this company and the position are a good fit for you.
Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job
Let’s start with what you shouldn’t say .
Don’t talk about how your boss is difficult. Don’t talk about how you can’t get along with other employees. Don’t bad-mouth your company.
Instead, focus on the positives a move will bring. Talk about what you want to achieve. Talk about what you want to learn. Talk about ways you want to grow, about things you want to accomplish explain how a move will be great for you and for your new company.
Complaining about your current employer is a little like people who gossip: If you’re willing to speak badly of someone else, you’ll probably do the same to me.
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What Questions Might A Candidate Ask An Interviewer
Most interviews end with the question, do you have any questions for us? Here are some questions a candidate might ask an interviewer:
- Why is this position open?
- What are the average daily responsibilities of this job?
- How would you describe the company culture?
- What is your training/onboarding process?
- What can I expect in my first 30/60/90 days on the job?
- What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role?
- What is your favorite part of working for this company?
- What development opportunities does the organization offer?
- What changes do you expect to see within the company over the next year/five years?
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
Remember that an interview is a two-way street where the candidate evaluates whether to join the company. Preparing thoughtful, thorough, and confident responses to common applicant questions makes a positive impression. Of course, a candidate may pose a unique or interesting question that catches you off guard, in which case you can buy time to think by commenting, that is a great question!
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What Is The Biggest Problem Facing Your Staff/company & Will I Be In A Position To Assist
Now you are really getting down to the nitty-gritty this question immediately suggests that you see yourself as a problem solver. Its a great way to show you are thinking about the team and also enables the interviewer to imagine you in the job. If you are applying for a managerial role, there may well be a way for you to solve the problem.
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What’s The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned From A Peer And How Have You Used That Lesson In Your Day
This one comes from Dan Slate, Director of Product Management at Wealthfront. Im looking for a candidates ability to identify superpowers in those around them that they want to improve upon themselves, he says.
I like this question because it allows me to assess their self-reflection and growth mindset. Depending on the answer they provide, it can also be a good window into how humble they are.
Tell Me About The Toughest Decision You Had To Make In The Last Six Months
The goal of this question is to evaluate the candidate’s reasoning ability, problem-solving skills, judgment, and possibly even willingness to take intelligent risks.
Having no answer is a definite warning sign. Everyone makes tough decisions, regardless of their position. My daughter worked part-time as a server at a local restaurant and made difficult decisions all the time — like the best way to deal with a regular customer whose behavior constituted borderline harassment.
A good answer proves you can make a difficult analytical or reasoning-based decision — for example, wading through reams of data to determine the best solution to a problem.
A great answer proves you can make a difficult interpersonal decision, or better yet a difficult data-driven decision that includes interpersonal considerations and ramifications.
Making decisions based on data is important, but almost every decision has an impact on people as well. The best candidates naturally weigh all sides of an issue, not just the business or human side exclusively.
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What Are Your Company Values
A lot of office culture is rooted in company values. In essence, a culture fit is an alignment on values between a company and an employee. When you ask this question be sure to think about what values you want to hear. If values are vague, ask how they affect daily life in the company. According to HubSpot, the best five company values are:
Take some time to prioritize values that resonate with you, and make sure the interviewer reflects those values.
