When practicing for a job interview, most people concentrate on answering typical interview questions in a dry run. This is an essential part of your interview practice, but to really make a connection with the interviewer, it’s important to practice other things such as your voice projection, tone, and conversational skills.
Asking questions is just as important as knowing how to answer them.
Not only does it help to create a natural flow of dialogue between you and your potential employer, but it shows them that you care about the role and take a special interest in their company. Here are some things to ask the next time you’re invited to attend a job interview:
What’s a typical day for someone in this role?
If you’ve read the job description, it’s very likely that you’ve seen the outline of the role and your responsibilities as a whole. But it’s important to find out exactly what you’ll be doing day-to-day. Ask about a typical working day and what’s expected.
You can even ask about non-role specific things such as where you’ll be sitting, who you’ll be interacting with, where the team tends to have lunch. Show an interest in the social elements of work too – employers want interesting, well-rounded individuals, not just a workhorse.
Also Read: 4 key steps to the perfect startup job interview
Is there an opportunity for progression?
Employers love candidates who are ambitious. Ask them about progression or where they see this role in a few years’ time.
Then follow up with the question of, “What can I do to achieve that?” It can even be interesting to discuss topical issues such as how AI (Artificial Intelligence) and automation may affect roles of the future.
Talking about current trends such as technology will show them your understanding of the industry and will place you as a forward-thinker who is moving with the times.
How do you measure success?
Ask the interviewer about one-to-one reviews, appraisals, team and individual targets, and the general management structure affecting your role.
It’s important to understand how your success will be measured, and by asking this you will be showing them how keen you are to be good at what you do.
What characteristics do you look for in employees?
This not only shows how much you want the role, but it also gives you a chance to fill in any missing gaps in your interview. It presents an opportunity to redeem yourself on certain areas, clarify certain aspects of your personality, or come back with a final statement of why you’re perfect for the job.
What is the company culture like?
One of the most important questions to ask is about company culture. Raising this doesn’t just show the employer that you’re ready to invest your time and hard work into their business, but it also gives you a better insight into what it’s really going to be like.
The company has to suit you, as much as you have to suit them. For instance, startup culture is known for being lots of fun, with social events and great office perks. But it’s also a culture that breeds hard work and sometimes long hours.
–
Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing contributions from the community. Become a thought leader in the community and share your opinions or ideas by submitting a post.
Join our e27 Telegram group here, or like e27 Facebook page here.
Image credit:Van Tay Media on Unsplash
The post How to ace your startup job interview appeared first on e27.