After you’ve defined what an ideal position looks like for you, you move into the application stage of the job hunt. Job descriptions and company profiles can be very telling, but there is still more to learn before you can confidently decide if a job is right for you, and you can gather that information by asking the right questions during the interview phase.
So, when a recruiter reaches out wanting to discuss an opportunity with you, make the most of the conversation by asking mindful questions that will help you decide whether or not you want to continue pursuing this position. From there, you can ask more in-depth questions with each interview stage to find out if it’s the right fit for you.
Remember, you are interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you. For the job to work out, it needs to be a good fit all around. By asking these pointed questions, you’re not only saving yourself some time, you’re also doing the company a favor by not wasting their time interviewing a candidate that ultimately won’t be interested. If it’s not a right fit, the sooner you know, the better for everyone involved.
A phone screen isn’t technically an interview, but it’s your way of getting through the gatekeeper, usually a recruiter, to the hiring manager. During this stage, the recruiter will probably ask you some qualifier questions about your background and give you a rundown of the position. Be sure that you are as clear as possible on the role and its responsibilities before ending the call though. So if the recruiter doesn’t give you a clear rundown of the position, ask for one.
Even though this (probably) isn’t the person you’d report to if you were to take this job, they will know the answers to some of the general questions you might still have for the role. (Note: if this is not just a screening call and you are talking to a hiring manager, you should add in some of the questions from the first interview section below.)
Some of the questions you can ask at this point include:
They may not be able to answer every question as thoroughly as you’d like, but that’s okay because if you’re offered a second interview and you decide to take it, you will get more details then.
Following the initial phone screen, your first interview will most likely be with the hiring manager and possibly a few members of the team you’d be working with. In this round, you’ll be able to get a feel for the company and team culture. You can also use this interview to ask for more details surrounding the workload, schedule and flexibility of the position.
Here are some good questions for the hiring manager:
This is also an opportunity to ask questions and get more details about benefits, policies and perks.
If team members are part of this interview round, don’t hesitate to ask them some questions to help you get a better idea of the work culture, such as:
You most likely won’t have a chance to ask all of these questions so be thoughtful about which are most important to you. You can also ask a question or two in your thank you email if you don’t get to one that you really wanted to cover.
If you are moving forward after this round of interviews you should ask the recruiter once your next interview is scheduled, if you’re able to get a copy of the company’s benefits summary so you have time to review it, and prepare questions for the next round of interviews, if necessary.
Not every job will have multiple rounds of interviews, but if this one does, at this point you’re likely meeting with some of the hiring manager’s team, peers and/or supervisors. This round will feel a little more formal, and by this time, you probably have a good sense of whether or not you want to pursue this role, but you can still use this as an opportunity to get a different perspective on the company’s culture and learn about long-term growth plans with questions like:
This isn’t the interview to ask nitty-gritty questions, but big picture things are fair game. This interview will help you get a sense of the company’s overall direction and how this role fits into it.
At any point in the interview process, if you decide this just isn’t the right fit for you, you can politely decline future requests by letting the recruiter know you’re withdrawing your application. You don’t need to defend or apologize for this decision, simply thank them for the opportunity and move on.
If, however, you do think this position could be a good fit and you’re presented with an offer letter, carefully evaluate the offer and ask clarifying questions as needed so you can move forward with confidence.
Remember, every interview has two sides, and you have just as much authority to ask your own qualifying questions as the person interviewing you does. Think of this as a level playing field because you all have the same goal—to find the right fit.
Considering a career move? Ask yourself these questions during your career search to determine if a job opportunity is the right fit for you and your needs.
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