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As a question it leaves the candidate with no where to hide. If they say No, I think weve covered everything , then it tells me straight away that theyve either not bothered to research the company, or theyre not interested enough to want to know more. Either way, it’s a response that rarely results in a good news phone call.
When preparing to conduct a series of interviews, its common for employers to invest time in thinking through the questions that theyre going to ask the candidates, but how often do you think about what questions youd like to be asked, and what they might say about the candidate
Im always impressed by any candidate thats taken the time to do their research and then prepare some questions, as it provides another way for me to see what they are about. Here are twelve questions that Im always hoping to be asked, when interviewing:
(1) How does this role contribute to the larger company goals
This question demonstrates an understanding of how important each role is to the success of the company as a whole. Being able to see the big picture is a good trait in an employee.
(2) If Im offer the job, what would my first month look like
What this tells me is that the candidate is keen to get off to a good start. Ive interview many people who on paper have everything Im looking for, but in person Ive not felt that they really wanted the job.
(3) Will there be any metrics used specifically to measure the success of this role
Every business should be benchmarking progress and success by setting targets and KPIs, so in asking this question it tells me that they understand and accept that the onus is on them to be successful.
(4) What is the biggest challenge the team is facing at the moment
This questions reflects a certain level of maturity and realism in the candidate and an understanding that the job might not always be rainbows and unicorns.
(5) Something which shows theyve done their research
I like it when candidates ask me something specific about the organisation that could only come up through research. Like reading our website and asking questions like Hows the new London office going , How did it feel to win the award , or When does the new product launch
Continue to find out which question would only be appreciated if the interview is going smoothly.
(6) How would a member of your team describe working here
This shows that they understand and value a strong company culture. Its always interesting to have to put yourself in the shoes of one of your colleagues.
(7) What do you like most about working for this company
This question shows me that they have good communication skills and feel comfortable engaging with senior members of the team. It also shows that they respect what I might have to say, which always comes across well.
(8) What makes somebody successful in your team
Ambition. Being asked this shows a level of ambition which I always like to see, as ambitious people are often more driven, which tends to be good for productivity.
(9) Is there anything in particular on my CV that catches your attention
Every interview should be a two-way street and you wouldnt be say down with a candidate if there wasnt something about their CV you liked. Being asked this questions shows a confidence in their own ability which is a good thing.
(10) Is there anything particular on my CV that causes concern
This is a very brave question to be asked, but it does give the candidate the chance to respond to those concerns in person. It shows to me that they really value the opportunity to work for your company, which goes a long way in my book.
(11) How do you define success for this job
Demonstrates that you are serious about the job and are thinking about being successful. Worth taking note of the answer as when you get the job youll know what to do!
(12) Can I have a quick tour
While I wouldnt want every candidate to ask this, but if the interview is going well then being asked to show them around helps to change the vibe of the interview and lets me see how they interact with their potential future colleagues.
Jonathan Richards is CEO of breatheHR.
