7 Questions to WOW the Interviewer!

“So, do you have any questions for me?” It’s a question that if unprepared for can cause a job seeker to miss a heartbeat.

Interviewers will judge you based on questions. More often than not an employer will end an interview by switching roles with the interviewee by offering the opportunity to showcase the candidate’s interest, understanding and passion for the role.

When that time of the interview arrives, one’s natural inclination may be to ask questions regarding salary, hours and workload of the role. However, going down this route may potentially be damaging to your chances of a job offer as it could give the perception that you’re more interested in the financial and personal lifestyle implications of the role. Naturally you will want to secure the best package possible and you can give yourself the optimum chance of doing so by following these tips in MET Marketing’s blog Securing the Perfect Job Package For You and leave us to negotiate with the employer on your behalf to avoid selling yourself short.

Instead of asking this type of question we would suggest that you focus on asking questions to your interviewer that display your focus on work placed achievement, helping the company grow and highlighting your in-depth understanding of the company and role for which you are applying. The goal is to end with the interviewer or panel being wowed with how you came across as a skilled, personable employee with potential to succeed within the organisation and a passion for and understanding of the business, the role and the potential challenges to be overcome.

“How would my role affect the organisation in the short, medium and long term?”

First, this question demonstrates that you are not just thinking about yourself, but rather where you fit into the strategy of the business as a whole. It switches the conversation from being about what the business can do for you to what you can do for the business.

“What were the reasons behind your decision to join (your business)?” A very polite version of saying “Why should I want to work here?”

The best candidates are commonly interested in what the interviewer found so appealing about the company they now work with so as to comprehend whether or not the opportunity is truly compelling.

This question shows the employer that you are thinking about your long-term future and are not interested in just another job — a good way to indicate to the hiring party that you take your work seriously and will only move for the right opportunity.

“What gets you out of bed every day and excites you to come to work?”

This question is a little bold which will make you stand out during the interviewing process. It’s also personal in its very nature, and therefore eludes to the fact you are a personable character, a key facet in any candidate. It shows you are someone whom loves to come to work excited about achieving something, and that you want to get to know the ins and outs of the role and the company. A great question all round.

“What are your organisation’s strengths and weaknesses compared to your competition?”

Candidates are usually evaluating multiple firms and making their own comparisons to figure out which one is the best fit for them. This is a savvy question because the candidate is asking for an assessment and perspective on what makes the interviewing business strong, while also trying to see how objective employees can be about the organisation.

“What would make someone really successful in this role?”

This makes the interviewer believe that you are a top candidate and want to blow everyone else out of the water. Most candidates are likely to forget to ask this question as they are primarily focused on how the company can help them and their careers progress. But the smart candidate will think also how they can help the company achieve its goals.

“What is an example of a business challenge you have recently faced?”

This question is influential because it shows that you are already thinking about ways to solve challenges you are likely to face in the role if you were the get the job. This forward thinking approach is what all hiring managers are looking for from a candidate. If after the interview you then address the challenge and how you would tackle it in your ‘Thank You’ note, you will be at the top of the hiring managers’ mind as someone who takes the initiative and can solve problems for the company.

“What is the question you really want to ask me but haven’t?”

This is a brilliant question because it encourages the interviewer/panel to allude to the concern they may have about you. Which will give you time to address it instead of being discretely cast aside in the hiring process.