Review Your Interview Research And Other Preparation Notes
After researching the company and connecting your professional history to the job description, review your notes to isolate your priority questions. That way, youâll come to the interview well-informed about the company and the position, rather than asking about details you can easily find online.
Other Potential Problem Questions
While not illegal in all states, or explicitly illegal, there are some other questions that could land your company in hot water:
- “Have you ever been arrested?” This has been seen, in some cases, to lead to racial discrimination and being arrested does not mean guilty of anything.
- “Can you work weekends or nights?” This can be seen as a question of religious observance or a proxy way of asking about family status.
E Interview Questions For Managers
If youre hiring team leaders, you want to make sure they can answer well to the above types of interview questions. But, hiring for each managerial position will entail an additional set of questions specifically to judge the candidates management skills . Depending on the seniority of the managers role, there are different interview questions to ask managers:
- Whats your approach to delegating work to employees? How do you ensure that tasks are completed?
- How would you describe your management style?
- Tell me about a time you had to deal with a team member who constantly opposed your ideas. How did you handle it?
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Q: What Are The Second Interview Questions To Ask The Employer
Answer:
- May I know why the position is open?
- What will be the next steps of the hiring process?
- Is there anything else you require about my qualifications for this position?
- Do you require any other references?
- Who was the previous occupant of this job, and why did he leave?
- When do you think you’ll make your hiring decision?
- May I know the probable start date if I am offered the position?
second interview questions to ask the employer.
First Know What Youre Looking For
We cant start talking about how to conduct an interview or interview questions if we dont know the specific skills we want to assess. Interview questions will determine whether youll get enough useful insight to judge candidates suitability for the job. This means that your questions must be directly related to the job requirements. Otherwise, it will be challenging to compare one candidate to another on the criteria that really matter.
To do this, first determine what qualities you want to see in your new hire. Start with the job description . Ask yourself:
- Which requirements do I want to assess during the interview? Make a comprehensive list and select those qualities you can assess through interview questions. Some of your requirements can be evaluated more effectively at previous stages .
- What requirements carry the most weight? For example, you definitely want your salespeople to have great communication skills, but they might not need to have extroverted personalities. So, your interview questions should focus on communication skills, instead of extroversion.
For example, lets look at the complete list of requirements for the role of Content Writer. These exclude experience and education, which can vary considerably depending on the role and are elements you can evaluate directly from the job application phase.
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How Would Someone In This Role Work Best With The Rest Of The Team
Are you big on collaboration? Do you thrive in a boisterous work environment? Youll want to know if this company seeks input and collaboration from all employees or if departments are siloed. A silo mentality has been shown to reduce an organizations efficiency, and has a significant effect on corporate culture.
Get A View Of The Future
Asking questions about the growth of the company and its employees is a good idea for two reasons. I always ask what a company’s goals are for the next five to ten years. It gives a good perspective on what their values are and how I may or may not fit with a company, says Diane Kulseth, another young professional. Plus, asking about the future of the company and opportunities for your own growth shows that youre committed and eager to learn. You can ask:
- Where do you see this company in the next few years?
- What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth?
- What training programs are available to your employees?
- Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?
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Describe A Difficult Work Situation & How You Overcame It
This is another typical interview question. The interviewer is looking for some insight about how you problem-solve and how you handle a challenge.
How to Answer:
Break it down into parts, giving a detailed overview on how it was fixed, especially your role in solving the issue. Make sure to provide measurable metrics and results for the interviewer.
Example Answer:
We were down 5 staff members prior to a charity event we organized for our client who generates roughly 75% of our annual business. They expect a flawless evening every time we put the event on so missing 5 key staff members who had prominent roles was crucial. I ran through all options immediately after receiving the news and began coming up with another game plan. . The evening went without a hitch and the client continued doing business with us the following year…
Putting It All Together
So there you have itnot only do you now know why you should have good questions to ask during an interview, you also know how to ask them and what to ask them.
Make sure you take the same amount of time to prep these as you spend on the rest of your interview prep and above all, be yourself, be genuine, be the PERFECT CANDIDATE
Good luck!
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Questions To Ask In A Job Interview
Interviewers will be focused on finding out if youâre the right fit for the position, but itâs also important to decide if the company is the right fit for you. Have a list of questions to ask in a job interview. These questions should be about:
Be careful not to ask questions already answered in the job description. Itâs important to go beyond those general duties to understand everything the job entails.
1. Can you offer specific details about the positionâs day-to-day responsibilities?
2. What would my first week at work look like?
3. How does this position contribute to the organizationâs success?
4. What do you hope I will accomplish in this position?
5. How does the company culture affect this role?
6. What job shadowing opportunities are available for an applicant before they accept an offer?
Proceed with caution: If rather than going into detail about the primary responsibilities listed in the job description, the employer rambles off many more duties — they may be asking you to take on more than you initially thought.
Most likely, the interviewer is the first contact youâll have at this company â they could even be your future boss. Asking questions can help you understand their attitude, company values, and where the companyâs future is heading.
7. What do you enjoy most about working here?
8. Why are you working in this industry?
9. Can you walk me through your typical work day?
11. What is your teamâs greatest accomplishment?
Interview Question #: What Is The Best Part Of Working For This Company
If you have several interviews with a company, you will be interacting with several employees. This question can be presented in each interview and gives you great insight into the company. Answers will vary and tell you a lot about how the company treats employees, the culture, and other aspects of the atmosphere.
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What Are The Next Steps In The Job Process
Asking about the next steps shows you are optimistic and want the job. Hiring managers appreciate a good sense of self-esteem. Just don’t seem too eager, as over-confidence may translate as arrogance. Asking about the next steps also helps with determining the follow-up protocols and prevents you from worrying whether it’s too soon to check back in.
Questions You Should Not Ask In A Job Interview
Ok, now that you have some surefire questions you can ask that will impress hiring manager lets go over the types of questions you should avoid asking. As youll see, these questions reflect poorly on you and paint you as a less than ideal candidate
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Questions To Ask The Interviewer About Current Events
This section allows you to demonstrate youre on top of whats going on and have done your research.
- How are recent political decisions impacting the company?
- How is regulation impacting your business?
- What are the biggest political, economic, social, or technological forces impacting the company?
- How has the recent New York Times article on your company impacted business?
Questions About The Position
- What are the key responsibilities of this position?
- How does this position fit into the company?
- How would you describe the ideal candidate?
- Can you describe a typical work day, or week, for this job?
- What immediate projects or tasks would I be working on?
- Is this a new position? If not, what kind of position has the previous employee moved on to?
- What training programs are available to new employees?
- Who would my immediate supervisor be? How would you describe their management style?
- How soon after hiring would I expect a performance review? What process is used?
- What are the prospects for advancement in this position?
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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.
What Do You Enjoy About Your Job
Everybody loves to talk about themselves and this question enables you to build up a sense of camaraderie with your interviewer. This question requires a personal response, so you could learn a lot from their answer.
You’ll get an insider’s view of the company culture and working environment and you may even get to discover how your interviewer got their start in the business and how they progressed.
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Where Do You See The Company In Five Years
This question serves two purposes. First, we all want stability, and the hiring manager’s answer will serve to tell you just how stable the company is. Who wants to work for an organization that will lay off team members in the near future? Asking this question also tells the interviewers you care about the company and want to build a lasting relationship. Hiring managers aim to hire long-term candidates who are willing to stick around for more than a couple of years.
After I Master The Basics Here What Opportunities Are Provided For Continued Learning And Career Growth
Asking about professional development and long-term career outlook in a role is yet another way to show that youre goal-oriented while finding out valuable info to help you decide whether to accept or if it gets to that point!
Always ask at least one question about how the company will help you grow long-term. This is a killer interview question to ask the employer because theyll see that youre planning on staying with the company for a long time and planning on being highly successful in the role.
This also shows a lot of confidence in the interview, which is always good.
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How Do You Prepare For A Video Job Interview
The more time you spend preparing for a job interview, the better your chances of landing the job are.
The interviewing process can be difficult, especially with the current state of the job market. One hiring shift that has blown up over recent years is video interviewingwith no slow down in sight.
Can You Elaborate On The Daily Duties Of This Role
If you feel like you still need more information about the job you’re applying to, this question can help your interviewer fill in the details. When they answer this question, listen carefully so that you can make note of what you’ll be doing in this role. This question can help you determine if you feel ready to take on these responsibilities and whether you can see yourself doing this kind of work every workday.
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Interview Question #: What Does A Typical Work Day Look Like
The answer to this question will reveal what your potential daily routine will be like and give insight into what your future could look like with the company. Depending on what you are looking for out of a career, this question will give you the knowledge necessary to determine how good of a fit this company and position will be. If the answer is something you turn your nose up at, then you should continue looking.
In conclusion, save your questions for the end of an interview. If the opportunity arises, you can ask during the interview, but only if it makes sense to ask in the moment. For example, don’t ask about management style when you are being questioned about your accomplishments.
Before an interview, prepare by writing down the questions you want to ask during the interview. Each opportunity will have different needs, but it’s a good idea to have a master list of solid questions to ask during any interview. You can later edit and tailor the list for each company you are applying for.
Need help practicing your interview skills? Learn more about TopInterview’s coaching services.
What Does Work/life Balance Look Like At Your Company
Are you the kind of person that doesnt mind checking emails at home or do you really want to disconnect when you leave the office? Asking this question lets candidates decide if they want to be in an always-on kind of environment. If the interviewers response indicates an overbearing workload and a messy internal processes, consider looking for a better work/life balance elsewhere.
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What Is Culture Fit
Culture fit is the alignment of a companys core values and culture with its employees. Often, its easiest to know what culture fit is when there isnt one, like someone who prefers silent concentration joining a company with a shared playlist playing across the office or an extreme extrovert stuck in a silent cubicle all day.
How Long Has The Job Been Open And Where Are You Currently In The Hiring Process
This is one of my favorite questions for an interviewer because it will provide you with valuable information about the hiring process and situation behind the scenes.
This can help you know what to expect as the process continues, and its also an original question that most candidates arent asking, so youll stand out in the interview.
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What Are Your Future Goals
This interview question, like the previous one, is intended to see if you’ll be a good long-term fit with the company.
The interviewer is looking for commitment and motivation.
How to Answer:
Focus on your career goals that align with the company. Demonstrate your understanding of the company’s mission, and how you can find your place there.
If there is a clear promotion path available that you’re interested in, feel free to mention it.
Example Answers:
Eventually I’d like to make my way into a project management position. I’m already familiar with many of the aspects of the work, so I’d like to improve my knowledge in the areas I’m less familiar with so that I can oversee an entire project.
I enjoy working with people and helping to resolve conflicts, so I can see myself moving up in HR eventually.
B Technical Interview Questions To Ask Candidates
These questions are at the core of technical interviews. If youre the hiring manager or a team member who does a similar job as the position youre hiring for, youll want to ask these questions. Note that technical does not mean tech-related in this case, it means specific and job-related.
To find the best technical interview questions to ask potential employees, search for the role youre hiring for in our vast library of 350+ interview question samples. Here are examples of jobs companies are often looking to fill:
Technical questions are usually part of the second interview questions to ask candidates who have been shortlisted after the initial interview or screening call. In this stage, youre evaluating the candidates ability to actually do the job.
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