Ending the interview: your own questions
Interviews are always a two-way process. Not preparing your own questions for the end of an interview is therefore a common – and significant – interview mistake.
There aren’t many interviews that conclude without the candidate being asked, ‘Do you have any questions for me/us?’ Almost all interviewers will give you a chance to ask questions and you should use this as an opportunity to further demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm. If you don’t then you’ll come across as passive and uninterested.
STATISTIC
A recent survey showed that 29 per cent of recruiters, when questioned, stated that the candidate not asking questions – or asking poor questions – at the end of the interview was sufficient reason for them to ‘fail’ them.
What to ask
Don’t ask too many questions – you’re the interviewee, not the interviewer! But do be prepared with a few intelligent questions, e.g. questions about their expectations, training, people you will be working with, the future, etc.
Here are some examples you might like to adapt to suit your own circumstances:
- What are the top priorities for my first six months in the job?
- How would you describe the team I will be working with?
- How do you see my role evolving over the next two to three years?
- How do you see the organisation evolving over the next five years?
- What training and professional development opportunities will be available?
You will notice that I have phrased these questions as if you had already bagged the job. It’s a subtle psychological technique which will project self-confidence and help further persuade the interviewer that you are the right candidate for the job.
One last sales pitch
If you have not been asked about something which you feel illustrates an important aspect of your ability to do the job, don’t be afraid to bring it up yourself at the end of the interview. You could, for example, ask how important such-and-such an ability is to the job. When the interviewer answers that it is indeed important then they’ve given you the perfect opportunity to roll out a pre-prepared example demonstrating that you have this ability.
An ‘advanced’ technique…
Another good question to ask is whether or not the interviewer has any reservations about your application – and what they are. It takes a bit of nerve to ask this question and you had better make jolly sure you are ready to address any reservations they may have; this will probably be your last chance to do so.
It might be described as an ‘advanced’ technique but if you can uncover any possible objections the interviewer might have to hiring you – and counter-attack effectively – then it can make all the difference. At the very least it’s a question which will certainly demonstrate your self-confidence.
BLOOPER!
Don’t ask questions just for the sake of it. One candidate, when asked if she had any questions, replied, ‘Are you going anywhere nice on your holidays this summer?’ Clearly that didn’t make the best of impressions.
Topics to avoid
First of all, avoid questions which the interviewer may expect you to already have the answers to. This includes questions about the organisation which a quick look at their website could have answered. You’ll expose a lack of preparation.
It’s also best to avoid questions about pay and holidays – unless, of course, the interviewer brings up these topics themselves. Such matters can always be covered in later discussions. Bringing them up during your interview can place too much focus on what you are expecting from the employer – rather than what you are offering them. This is never a good idea at this stage in the process.
You should also avoid asking questions which the interviewer is unlikely to know the answers to. They won’t take kindly to this at all! Your interviewer may well work within a centralised HR department whose staff can’t be expected to know the precise operational details of every other department.
TOP TIP
Whatever questions you select, be aware that they can reveal a lot about you – the way you think, your motivations, your needs, etc. Remember this and try to keep your questions upbeat and positive.
Wrapping up
In wrapping up, make sure that you find out when you can expect to hear whether or not you have been successful – it could be anything from the same day (in which case, you may even be asked to wait around for a decision) to a couple of weeks. Don’t – ever – be tempted to ask the interviewer if they felt the interview went well – it smacks of desperation. I heard of one candidate who even admitted to the interviewer that they didn’t feel the interview had gone very well and they asked if perhaps there were any other jobs going elsewhere in the organisation. Don’t let nerves get the better of you.
And finally, remember to thank the interviewer for their time before you leave.