How Asking Smart Questions in an Interview Can Land You the Job
Are you looking for a job? If so, you know that interviews are key. But did you know that many times, it’s not the answers you give but the questions you ask that set you apart from other candidates? In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best questions to ask in a job interview. Not only will these questions help you learn more about the company and the position as you move through the interview process, but they will also show the interviewer that you are the right candidate for the job!
How asking smart questions in a job interview can help you stand out from other candidates
Job seekers often focus on preparing to answer common job interview questions. However, when you’re in an actual interview, it’s not just the person with the best answers answers to the questions land the position – it’s the person who asks the best questions.
While you do have to answer questions that the interviewer asks you, asking smart, insightful questions of your own shows that you’re truly interested in the position and that you have the ability to think critically and solve problems for the company.
Not only do they demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in the role and the company's future, but they also give you a chance to see how well you'll fit into the organization.
How can you use smart questions to control the dialogue in a job interview?
The best job interviews are a conversation, not an interrogation. If you’re interviewing for a job, there’s no need to be nervous or awkward about asking questions. In fact, smart interviewers come prepared with a few questions of their own.
You don't need to wait until the end of the job interview to ask your questions. If interview questions you are asked lead you to a question of your own, go ahead and ask it! This gives them a chance to speak about some of the challenges the company is facing, and lets you then respond in turn with how you've addressed similar challenges in your current job.
This is a great way to make sure that you get to talk about the skills and experiences you have that are most relevant to the position. You can also make sure to highlight some of your positive aspects that might not come up from common interview questions, like team work or relevant qualifications that will help showcase you as the best candidate.
If you can control the dialogue in this way, you show yourself to be a leader who can solve problems for them and you’re more likely to land a job offer.
However, make sure to save some of your questions for after the interview is over. Asking questions shows that you're interested and engaged, but bombarding the interviewer with questions can make it seem like you're not listening. Keep a few up your sleeve for the end, so you have something to ask if they say "Do you have any other questions?"
Having some final questions will leave a great impression with hiring managers and make you more likely to be called for a second interview.
How do you come up with good questions to ask during an interview?
By now you understand how important it is to ask good questions in an interview. But how do you come up with smart questions?
There are a few ways to come up with good questions to ask during an interview.
Do your research about the company
You want to think about the company’s goals and how you could help solve them. In order to do this, you can't just rely on the job listing. You will need to do some research on the company. Check their website and social media pages, and also skim for news articles. This will help you identify relevant questions to ask the interviewer.
For example, if you know the company is struggling with sales, you could ask what their strategy is for boosting sales. You can also ask if they've looked into XYZ resources. This shows that you’re not only interested in the company but also that you have some great ideas on how to help them succeed!
You can also ask about something specific from the job description. For example, if they mentioned they were looking for someone who could write copy for their social media channels, ask what their current approach is like and how many people they have writing copy right now.
Do your research on the interviewer
Similar to researching the company, you want to do your research on the interviewer. Check their LinkedIn page and do a quick Google search for their name. (Don't worry that they will see that you've viewed their LinkedIn page, many interviewers expect that and will even see it as a positive thing that you're doing your research and cared enough to prepare for the interview.) I once had an interviewer directly ask me what I knew about his background. Having a detailed answer landed me the job in that case.
In preparing for another job interview, I found that the interviewer had recently published a paper on how the role of the CFO is evolving. I teed up a question asking for her perspectives on that topic, and she happily talked for several minutes about her research in that area. Not only did I make it clear that I was up to date on industry trends, but it left her with a good feeling coming out of the interview.
If you still can't find anything about them from your research, you can also ask questions like:
What brought you to the company?
What do you like most about working here?
What has your own career path been like?
How has the company changed since you've come onboard?
What kind of professional development activities have you taken advantage of while in this role?
If I take this role, how can I best help you to be successful?
Do you have a favorite office tradition?
Make sure that the job is a good fit for you.
Last but not least, you want to ask questions to make sure that this role will be a good fit for you as well. This helps you to stand out because it makes it clear that you're not looking for just any job in your job search, but the right job.
If you’re unsure about the job duties or the company culture, those would be great things to ask about! Here are some questions that will help you not only to seem interested and engaged, but to succeed from day 1 if you get the job:
What are your five-year goals (or one-year goals) for this role?
Can you tell me about how this position fits into the bigger picture?
What would be my most immediate projects/task/assignment upon starting?
What are the biggest challenges this department/company is facing right now?
What are some of the qualities of successful employees in this job and the company?
What are some things I can do to prepare for this role?
Can you tell me more about the team I’ll be working with?
What does your ideal candidate for this job opening look like?
Can you walk me through a typical day/week in this position?
How can you tell if a question is a good question to ask in an interview setting?
Well-crafted, informed questions can show your interest in the position and the company — and help you find out if the job is really right for you. But the wrong question can make you look unprepared or uninterested in the position. Employers typically want to hire someone who is motivated and interested in the specific job they're hiring for.
Avoid asking questions that you should already know if you've done some basic research, such as:
What does your company do?
Who is your target market?
What are your main products or services?
How did you get started in this business?
Where is your headquarters located?
What are my main responsibilities in this role?
These questions show that you haven't bothered to learn anything about the company ahead of time and will reflect negatively on you as a candidate.
Ask the right question to the right person at the right time
The best questions are specific and relevant to the person you're speaking with. You also want to avoid asking a question that the person can't answer, i.e. asking detailed questions about other departments. Don't waste the interviewer's time with things they can't answer, and if it doesn't feel right, save the question for the next interview.
If you're talking to a hiring manager, ask about the team's goals and how this role fits into them.
If you're talking to someone in HR, ask about the company's culture and how they onboard new employees.
If you're talking to a coworker, ask about their experience with the company and what they think of the team you'd be working on.
By asking the right question to the right person, you'll not only get information that's relevant to you, but you'll also show that you're interested in the role and invested in finding out if it's a good fit for you.
Takeaway
By now you know that asking smart questions in a job interview can help show that you are the best person for the job. Do your research ahead of time, and craft specific and relevant questions that will show your interest in the role and the company. Asking the right question to the right person at the right time can make all the difference and leave a good impression. And if you need help improving your interview skills, check out our interview preparation services. Good luck!
Hire This Mom can help with your job search
Hire This Mom is a career coaching service for working moms. We help career moms to land offers at top companies through career coaching, resume writing, and interview preparation. If you want to work with us, check out our services here or book a free introductory call to learn more.
