To impress any employer, during your job interview, be sure to ask two or three questions from this list of 20 compelling job interview questions for employers.
Nearly 1 in 10 graduates are believed to be unemployed six months after graduating from universities. Almost half of recent graduates are working in non-graduate jobs and the remaining graduates are often forced to take on lower-skilled jobs when faced with the competition of those who are similarly qualified and as eager to work.
Unfortunately, there are fewer opportunities for job seekers; job searching has become highly competitive. No doubt that rather than it being a buyer’s market, where as a job seeker, you can pick and choose between job offers, there are now fewer jobs available and more candidates than ever to choose from, so potential employers can afford to cherry pick or be very picky.
If you are lucky enough to be shortlisted for an interview, you better not blend with the others; you need to stand out so as to get noticed in a good way in order to be considered. So, what can you do to get noticed? Remember, you don’t need to wear a fluorescent jacket or tattoo the name of the company on your forehead. Instead, the answers regarding what to do are simple:
• Prepare for the interview – See Ace Your Job Interview
• Rehearse your answers to frequently asked questions – See Interview Questions And Answers and How to Answer 23 of the Most Common Job Interview Questions
• Show up on time, dress appropriately and look professional – See Interview Do’s and Don’Don’t s
• Watch your body language – See The Candidate’s Non-Verbal Communication and See Improve Your Interview Appearance and Body Language
• Expect the unexpected – See Expect the Unexpected: How to Handle Off-the-Wall Interview Questions
• Showcase your skills portfolio. It must have everything in it to actively market your candidacy and yourself – See Skills Portfolio: Creatively Showcasing Your Skills
• Prepare your questions and ask compelling questions at the end of the interview – See 20 Compelling Job Interview Questions for Employers
An interview is a two-way street with traffic rules. It involves verbal communication where they ask you questions, you answer and before they finish the session, they ask you if you have any questions for them.
Remember, you must be prepared to ask employers few questions because they will typically provide an opportunity for you to ask them questions at the end of the interview. Ideally, prepare to ask the employers two or three clever questions to know if the employers meet some of your basic needs at work and in addition, you want them to remember you after the interview for the clever questions you asked.
Since we know that you will be under immense pressure at your interview already, we have done the leg work for you by providing you with a list of 20 compelling job interview questions for employers in an interview:
20 Compelling job interview questions for employers
1. What separates your high performers from the others in the organization?
2. What characteristics have your most successful candidates brought to the organization?
3. For you, what does success look like in the first 3 months performing this role?
4. What are the challenges of the role and how can one overcome them?
5. Where have past successful employees in this position progressed to within the company?
6. How do you motivate and retain your top talent in this and other roles?
7. What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
8. Can you describe your ideal employee for this role?
9. How would you describe a typical week or day in this position?
10. What are the prospects for growth and advancement in this position?
11. What do you like about working here?
12. How do you see the future for anyone in this role?
13. What do you consider to be your firm’s most important assets?
14. What have been the department’s successes in recent years?
15. What would you say are the organization’s strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?
16. What are the skills and attributes you value most for anyone hired for this position?
17. What are the immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first month?
18. How does upper management view this role based on the current strategy of the organization?
19. How will responsibilities and performance be measured for this position?
20. What is the company’s policy on providing training to employees so that they can keep up their skills and acquire new ones?
When you ask the interviewers two or three of these questions 20 compelling job interview questions for employers, listen, remember to maintain eye contact and take notes if necessary when they answer. Then, finish off on a positive note – rise up from your seat and thank the potential employers for their time and reiterate your interest in the position. Stand up, shake their hands firmly and leave the interview room happy that you’ve done everything you can to get noticed for the role.
Are there any other questions to add to this list of 20 compelling job interview questions for employers? If so, add your comments below.
Compelling questions indeed. Thanks for compiling them.