Good Interviews Are Not “One-Way Traffic”
Always keep in mind that an interview provides an important opportunity for you to learn more about a role, company, work environment and its people.
While you are doing your pre-interview research, note down any questions that arise. Use the interview as an opportunity to clarify any points of concern or areas of understanding.
The better your research, the better your understanding of the company and interviewer.
The more informed and knowledgeable about the company and interviewer you are, the better you will come across and the more meaningful the interview will be.
Questions to Ask Before Interviews
Before you even get to sit down and interview, there are a few pre-interview questions you should always ask to make sure that you turn up in good shape.
- What is the interview format? Is it an informal chat or a formal interview? Is it a structured formal interview such as behavioural or competency-based?
- Will you have to supply examples of previous work or make a presentation?
- Who will be in the interview and what are their titles within the company?
- Where is the interview (room number/location)?
- What is the company dress policy? Is it casual or do most people wear suits? Dress accordingly.
Questions to Ask at Interviews
Don’t be afraid to ask a few questions of your own. It’s important that you do so. It may well help you decide if the role is right for you! Here are a few good samples to get you started:
- What is the working environment like?
Asking this question will help you understand how you can fit into the company’s working environment and culture.
- How did you start, and why have you stayed here?
Only ask this question if you have done your pre-interview homework on the person(s) with whom you are interviewing. use this if you have researched the interviewer’s history.
This has to be one of the best questions to ask in a job interview, showing that you are interested in other people, their expertise and experience (naturally, people also love to hear about themselves). Politely ask something like: “I understand that you’ve been working at this company for 10 years. How did you start, and what’s your favourite part of the job?”
- What are you ideally looking for in a person?
This question tells you exactly what the employer is looking for. Therefore, try to ask this question as early on in the interview as possible.
For example, if their response is: “We are looking for someone who combines good
intellectual qualities and the ability to engage with clients”. ‘
Your answers throughout the interview should clearly articulate that you are that right person for the job!
Related Material
- Interview Advice
- Commonly Asked Interview Questions
- Competency-Based Interviews
- Psychometric Testing
