Sunday, March 17, 2024

What Questions To Ask Recruiter During Phone Interview

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What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up

Top Phone Interview Tips: 5 Common Questions & Best Strategies | Indeed Career Tips

Question nominated by: Frank Ziegler, director of sales and marketing of electric powertrains at evLABS

This playful phone interview question will do more than make candidates smile it can help you test their curiosity. Even a highly accomplished candidate who loves their career may have things they still want to do in their life, and their answer will give you an idea of how big they dare to dream.

Great answers wont necessarily include a specific job title. Candidates may talk more fluidly about career goals they want to achieve or skills they want to be using, like working in a job where they can be creative or feel like theyre helping people.

Frank isnt the only recruiter to favor this question: Stewart Butterfield, CEO and co-founder of Slack, also loves to ask this. As Stewart explains, Good answers are usually about areas in which they want to grow, things they want to learn, things that they feel like they havent had a chance to accomplish yet but want to accomplish.

List Of The 20 Best Questions To Ask Recruiters

You may not need to use all of the following 20 questions to ask recruiters as they will likely share some of this information as they talk to you about the role and company.

But having these questions in the back of your mind will help you tactfully prompt the recruiter to fill in any gaps. It also saves you from having to ask these questions during potential interviews with the hiring manager.

To help you out, Ive divided up the questions into the 5 goal-based categories I mentioned before.

Does The Company Have A Remote Work Policy

Flexible and remote work has gone beyond the work perk stage and has become an expected way to work. If its important to you to be able to work at home or adjust your schedule as needed, find out in advance if this is possible in this particular role.

If the company has a remote work policy, this can provide you all the details you want to know. If they dont have a policy in place, you may need to dig deeper to discover the companys feelings on flexible work. And while many companies say that theyre open to it, if there isnt already a formal policy in place, then this may not be the best fit for you if flexibility is high on your list.

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Questions About Life As A Student Athlete

  • If I am having trouble with my academics, is there any tutoring or other support available to student athletes?
  • How do your players balance academics with athletics?
  • What is the team GPA?
  • What do the players major in?
  • Are there any players majoring in my major?
  • How many players graduate?
  • If there is a conflict with academics and athletics, how is it handled?

Interview Questions To Ask When Hiring A Recruiter

Top 10 Phone Interview Questions to Ask Job Candidates ...

Making the right hiring decision comes down to the recruiter interview questions you ask. Asking thorough, conversation-starting questions will let you learn more about the applicant.

On top of behavioral interview questions you might ask, recruiter job interview questions should be geared toward the industry. Find out about the recruiters success rate in making placements, what industries they are strongest at recruiting in, and their relationships with candidates and clients.

Take a look at this list of interview questions for recruiters:

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Be Willing To Discuss Salary

Now, this is a tricky one. It’s not easy to discuss salary as you don’t want to lowball yourself, but avoiding this conversation altogether can only backfire. Recruiters and hiring managers ask about salary for a reason: They don’t want to waste your time if your expected salary is much higher than what the hiring company is willing to pay.

Some candidates like to beat around the bush when it comes to this question. They go through the entire interview process without giving an answer until the very end. This is the worst thing you could do! If your salary demand is much higher than what the company is offering, not only have you wasted the recruiter’s time, but you have also made a bad impression on someone who can introduce you to better jobs in the future. Be honest about what you’re willing to earn so that you can focus on other job openings if this one doesn’t work for you.

Exude An Air Of Strong Culture Fit

Companies hire candidates based on three things, not just one. Number one is the obvious, Can she do the job? This must be a yes, no matter what. But what typically clinches it for the candidate who lands the job is that shes also a yes to these questions: Do we like her? and Do we think shes going to fit in around here?

You absolutely must showearly onthat youre a strong cultural fit. Thus, if youre interviewing for a role within a company you know little about, you should study the organizations online presencethe company website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, you get the pictureand figure out its brand personality, its tone, its vibe. And then, assuming you line up with that? Make it clear throughout the screening call.

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How Long Has The Job Been Available

This follow-up question will give you an insight into how valuable the position is. It will also serve as an indication of where you stand in the interview process.

If the job only became vacant recently, you will be one of the first people the interviewer sees. However, the downside of this is that the interview process could last several weeks.

How Long Has The Position Been Open

Phone Interview Questions and Answers Examples – How to Prepare for Phone Interviews

Has the position been open for a few days, weeks, months, or a year? The longer the position has been open the more difficult it may be to get an offer.

An open position that has been available for a year is usually a big red flag. The company most likely is being unrealistic in their expectations. They maybe looking for the perfect candidate that costs the least amount of money and can walk on water.

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Smart Questions To Make You Stand Out During The Interview

Interviews can be stressful, but if youve done your research, prepared your answers, the next thing is to create a list of questions you will ask during the interview. Remember, the interview really should be a mutual exchange of information, not an interrogation.

When you ask questions is demonstrates your interest in the company and the position. It also shows you have given careful thought to what the job will entail and whether the company will be a good match. Sending these impressions to the employer can work in your favor. Remember, most employers arent hiring butts in seats. They want the people they hire to perform, and hopefully better than expected.

There are four different categories of questions listed depending on where you are in the interview process and what information you want to gather during your discussion.

Whats The Candidate Selection Process Like

Its always smart to find out whats on the horizon. The recruiter should be able to tell you about the main stages, including whether there are multiple interviews, skills tests, screenings, or other steps involved. In some cases, theyll also have a clear timeline, though that isnt always the case.

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Which Part Of The Position Has The Steepest Learning Curve What Can I Do In Order To Get Up To Speed Quickly

For some jobs, learning the technology or the internal company procedures is the most challenging aspect of coming on board. For others, it is about understanding the human network. Any guidance on how to speed up the learning process and make you effective and productive quicker can give you a significant advantage.

What Should I Wear To The Interview

What To Expect From a Recruiter

Selecting a business casual outfit for an interview in an office is a safe bet. However, this term is rather vague and can cover a wide range of outfit options. The interviewer may have a preferred dress code that can be useful to know about. Asking the recruiter this question also shows that you value their opinion.

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What Steps Or Techniques Do You Take To Ensure You Meet The Commitments Of Your Role

Candidates answers tell a lot about their follow-through on commitments and dedication to their jobs. Look for specifics in their responses.

Dedicated, committed employees will be able to speak to their efforts to ensure they do a good job in their roles. They will speak to prioritizing tasks and managing their time.

Who’s The Ideal Candidate For This Role

Want a leg-up in the interview process? Ask the recruiter to describe the company’s ideal candidate. Sure, you could just reference the job posting, but the recruiter will likely have more intel. Jot down plenty of notes and ask follow-up questions. You’ll be able to use this information to determine if this role is a good fit for you and even shape your answers for later interview questions .

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Anything In Particular I Should Prepare

This is a good catch-all question. The recruiter may give you additional insight or details that may be extremely helpful. They may say something like,

Were really looking for someone with a strong analytics background, it would be helpful if you had examples of when you had to work with complex data to make a decision.

We want to know how well you work with engineering teams and your experience working on technical projects.

How Quickly Does The Position Need To Be Filled

The Easy and Painless Way to Pass EVERY Recruiter Phone Interview

This is a great question to ask as a recruiter before an interview. This is because it gives you a timeline on how soon the company needs someone. Do they plan to hire someone in a few days, weeks, or months?

This information will help you prioritize which interviews you should place more importance on. If they are just casually interviewing candidates with no deadline insight it could be months before they make an offer.

These types of positions can waste your time. Often times employers start the interview process without knowing exactly what type of person they need.

It is quite common for the employer to end up changing the job description several times before hiring someone.

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These Are The 20 Best Questions To Ask Recruiters

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If youre looking for a job, you dont need to speak to a recruiter. But it sure can help. Thats because recruiters have in-depth information about available jobs that would be difficult to find elsewhere. But just because they have a wealth of information doesnt mean theyre always going to share it openly. Oftentimes, it’s best to have a list of questions to ask recruiters instead.

In this post Ive put together 20 of the best questions to ask recruiters so you can use to get more information about the company and the role. But before we dive into those, I want to first talk about why its important to ask questions at all!

Is The Work Environment Collaborative Or Independent

Ask this question to find out if the company work environment will suit your work style and personality. If youre an extrovert who enjoys high-energy, collaborative work environments, you dont want to be surprised when you arrive on your first day and find out that most people work alone in private offices.

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Why Preparing Interview Questions Is Important

A phone interview should be a conversation, not an interrogation. Asking meaningful questions shows that youre serious about the position. If you dont ask questions, you risk appearing uninterested or unpreparedeven if the rest of the interview goes well.

You might come up with questions to ask based on the natural flow of the conversation, but its always best to prepare a few in advance. That way, when the recruiter or hiring manager asks if you have any questions, you can take full advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the role.

The goal of asking questions in an interview is to determine if the position and the company are a good match for your skillset, career goals and personality. Avoid asking questions with the goal of impressing the interviewer. Instead, focus on those areas where you have a genuine curiosity. Your authenticity will further strengthen your suitability for the job. For example, if you value career growth, ask questions about the typical career trajectory for the position. If you enjoy fast-paced work, ask about the work environment. Save questions about salary and benefits until later on in the hiring process.

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Questions to ask in an interview:

  • Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities this job entails?

  • What are the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?

  • What’s the most important thing I could do within the first 90 days?

  • What are some of the challenges people in this role encounter?

  • How Long Has The Position Been Vacant

    5 Questions to Ask During a Phone Interview with a Recruiter

    With this question, you can glean some insights about the hiring process or the hiring managers mindset. If its been several months, that could indicate that the hiring manager is highly selective or that there is some kind of challenge thats preventing them from choosing a candidate. It could also mean that filling the role isnt a priority or that the process is long.

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    Tell Me About A Time When You Had A Disagreement At Work And How You Handled It

    You can expand on this further by asking about a disagreement with a superior and/or a colleague.

    I like this question because it gives hiring managers insight into how candidates handle conflict at work. Are they naturally confrontational, quiet and secretly stewing or balanced when it comes to conflict? If they cannot give you an example, they may be hiding something.

    Leslie Lockhart, 10 years of recruiting and management experience, Twitter:

    Good Questions To Ask At The End Of A Recruiter Interview

    When your interview is drawing to a close, you usually get a chance to ask the hiring manager at least a couple of questions before everything wraps up. This is a great chance to not only express your enthusiasm for the position as smart questions make you seem especially engaged and excited but also gather some important details.

    Its crucial to have at least a couple of questions ready. In some cases, youll discover something you want to learn during the interview process. However, it still doesnt hurt to have a few options in your back pocket, ensuring you have something to ask when the time comes.

    If you dont know what you should ask the hiring manager, here are five great questions for the end of your recruiter interview.

  • What is the biggest recruitment challenge this company is facing?
  • Which ATS systems and other recruitment technologies does your company use?
  • What do your most successful recruiters have in common?
  • How many jobs will this position need to fill each month? Of those, how many are specialty or involve hard-to-find skill sets?
  • What metrics do you use to gauge a recruiters success in the role?
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    How Long Have You Worked With The Company

    Knowing the relationship the recruiter has with the company is helpful. The longer the recruiter has worked with the hiring manager the more insight they should have about them.

    They should hopefully have a good understanding of their management style, how they treat employees and the companys culture.

    If the recruiter has delivered top talent to the employer for many years they are more likely to trust their opinion. There is a good chance they will have some sway over which candidate is hired.

    Recruiters Nominate Their Favorite Phone Interview Questions

    How to Do a Phone Interview – Phone Interview Questions and SAMPLE Answers

    Copywriter, Content Strategist, and Journalist

    Lets face it: Phone screenings can be challenging. More often than not, its your first opportunity to have an in-depth discussion with your candidates, and theres a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time. You have to make a great first impression, give them more information about the company and role, and gather all the information you need to make an informed decision all in the course of one brief phone call. Thats why its so important to ask the right questions.

    To help you get more out of every screening, we asked recruiters to tell us their go-to phone interview questions. Here are 10 of the most useful, eye-opening, and creative questions they shared.

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    What Do You Enjoy About Working For This Company

    Make a personal connection with your interviewer by asking about their experience at the company. This question will uncover some insights about the company culture and what its really like to work there. For example, your interviewer might like the companys friendly atmosphere, flexible work options or growth opportunitiesall of which can help you determine if it is a company youd like to work for, too.

    New Job Requirements & Responsibilities

    Questions about the available position allow employers to gauge your qualifications for, interest in, and plans for your potential new role.

    Common questions in this category include:

    • Are you still interested in this position?
    • Why do you want this job?
    • What relevant experience for this position do you have?
    • What attracts you about this position and our organization?
    • The requirements for this position include x, y, and z. Briefly describe how you meet each of these requirements.
    • What is your biggest professional accomplishment, and how do you think it pertains to this position?

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