Getting an interview for that dream job is a perfect chance
to sell yourself and you need to make sure that you get everything right.
Preparation is vital and it goes without saying that you
should turn up for the interview knowing everything there is to know about your
prospective employers and the role that you have applied for.
Of course, no two interviews are ever the same and the line
of questions that you take will be determined by the nature of the company and
the people who are interviewing you.
But I have always been more impressed by candidates who ask
ME questions. The process should never be one sided - you need to take control.
The best way of doing this is to ask as many questions as the interviewer does.
There are at least three questions you should definitely
have ready to ask for every job interview you go for. Remember the aim is to
sell yourself as a bright, motivated and ambitious individual but it is
important not to be too obvious. The people who are interviewing you will have
heard it all before and they will be looking for someone who has that little
bit extra quality or personality which sets them apart from the rest of the
crowd.
Here are three questions that you should always try and ask:
What qualities are you looking for in the person you are
hoping to appoint?
This may sound like a very obvious starting point but it is
vital for both parties to grasp exactly what it is needed from candidate in
terms of skills and experience. Remember the whole point of the interview is to
prove you are the person that they want and are looking for. There is a much
better chance of being able to do that if you actually ask the interviewers
straight from the start what their ideal candidate would be.
What scope is there for personal development at your
company?
It is important to show any prospective employee that you
are the type of person who is ambitious and is looking to move their career
forward. No one wants to take on an individual who is going to be content to
coast and you need to show that you are not coming along just for an easy ride.
Any ambitious and forward thinking company will be looking for likeminded individuals.
Ask a question which will give you give the chance to show just how driven you
are.
Is there anything you have seen in the other people on the
shortlist that you have not seen in me?
This is a great question to throw into the mix as the
interview is drawing to a natural close. I remember a candidate asking me this
once and I had to smile because it left me with nowhere to go. As well as
turning the tables on the panel it is also a great way of gauging just how well
or how badly you have performed throughout the course of the selection process.
You should always be looking to improve and getting feedback from an
interviewer is a crucial part of this. It is a risky strategy to take because
you might get an answer you are not happy with. But if you are prepared to take
a risk, then this final question is a gamble that just might pay off.
Articles source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130815094409-32175171-the-3-questions-people-always-forget-to-ask-in-an-interview/