How do you nail a job interview? In short, mastery comes with practice. However, it’s not uncommon for a typical applicant to get too few interviews to start feeling comfortable during them. If this is your case, the reason might be your inability to craft a winning resume.
Today, resumes are sifted through the ATS (applicant tracking system), and only those that make it through end up on the recruiter’s desk. So, it’s vital to optimize your resume/CV by adding keywords, not to mention that the document should be impressive in every other sense.
To get more interviews, consider finding a reliable resume writers service like skillhub.com and approaching them with a “write my resume for me” request. With a professional bot-beating resume, you’ll be more likely to draw attention and eventually land a dream job.
Also, there are more things to take care of. For example, did you know that you are supposed to not answer the questions but also to ask them during your conversation with the recruiter?
Why Ask Questions During a Job Interview?
Here’s a common situation: as the job interview is drawing to a close, your vis-a-vis says it’s your turn to ask questions. Suddenly, you feel lost and give them a blank stare…
This is bad because it may be viewed as a lack of interest. The best way to avoid this embarrassing situation is to prepare in advance. If you’re unsure what you can ask about, take a look at the key topics listed below.
What Should I Ask About?
There are quite a few topics you should cover to make sure that the company and the role it offers are a good fit for you or visit top-resume-reviews.com and read reviews on the best resume writing services. These are
- the job itself;
- the company on the whole;
- the company culture;
- development, training, and job perspectives;
- performance measurement and incentives;
- the manager and their expectations.
Have the questions not started flowing yet? Below, you’ll find a list of sample questions. Let’s jump right in and discuss each item in detail.
Key Questions to Ask During a Job Interview
Here are some sample questions you should ask during your conversation with a recruiter or a hiring manager. They are quite common, so make sure you internalize and modify them so that they sound natural.
What Does the Typical Working Day in This Position Look Like?
Certainly, you’ve read the job description, but are you sure it’s given you a true insight into what you’ll be doing on a daily basis once they hire you?
To steer clear of unwelcome surprises, try to find out as much as you can about the day-to-day duties of an employee in this role. If you get an answer like “each day is not the same,” try asking what a person in this position was doing during the last week.
What Are the Main Challenges I’ll Face in This Role?
The job description is there to give applicants a brief overview of the duties and the demands for the role, and it is fine for a first approach. But there are a lot of things that are usually left out, and these are not likely to surface unless you ask.
For example, there might be issues requiring immediate action, the budget can be tight, the team might need training, etc. If you don’t want to be thrown in at the deep end, it’s better to prepare in advance.
How Would You Describe the Company Culture? Is It Strict or More Relaxed Here?
This question is not only about whether it’s okay to show up in shorts and flip-flops in the office, though you should feel free to address the topic if it is of concern to you. But most importantly, this is about your working hours and flexibility (or the lack of it).
Are you expected to be at your desk at 9:00, or can you come at any time you like as long as you work full hours? Can you work from home? What is the attitude towards sick leaves? All this stuff is vital and should be discussed before you accept the offer.
Are There Any Development and Training Options Available for This Position?
It’s easy to get bored when you’re stuck in a position with no growth opportunities. If everything’s the same day in, day out, chances are you’ll be looking for a new job again very soon. To make sure the role is future-proof, ask about development and training opportunities for employees in advance.
If you expect a promotion soon, ask about the typical career path and how long it takes to get promoted to not wait in vain.
What Are the Next Steps I Should Take After This Interview?
This is a necessary technical question ideal to wrap up the conversation. Don’t forget to ask it unless you want to spend the next few weeks nervously biting your nails waiting for feedback from the company.
Also, when you know the timeline, it’s easier to pick the right time for a follow-up email if you haven’t heard from the recruiter or the hiring manager when expected.
Next Steps
Now that you have these sample questions, you can internalize and reformulate them to better fit your purpose. You can also write more questions based on the topics listed in this article. It’s also a good idea to rehearse the interview with a career advice expert, a friend, or a relative to make sure you’re ready to go.
