'Beyond the hard skills required to successfully perform this job, what soft skills would serve the company and position best?'
Smart people want to know exactly what they're getting into.
Knowing what skills the company thinks are important will give you more insight into its culture and management values, so you can evaluate whether you would fit in, Amy Hoover, president of Talent Zoo, tells Business Insider.
'How would you score the company on living up to its core values? What's the one thing you're working to improve?'
Peter Harrison, CEO of Snagajob, tells Business Insider this is a respectful way to ask about shortcomings within the company — which you should be aware of before joining.
As a bonus, he says, it shows that you are being proactive in wanting to understand more about the internal workings before joining.
'How do you evaluate success here?'
Knowing how a company measures its employees' success is important. It will help you understand what it would take to advance in your career there — and can help you decide if the employer's values align with your own.
'How do you help your team grow professionally?'
Harrison says this question shows that you're willing to work hard to ensure you grow along with your company.
This is particularly important for hourly workers, he says, because they typically have a higher turnover rate and are looking for people who are thinking long-term.
'What type of employee tends to succeed here? What qualities are the most important for doing well and advancing at the firm?'
This question shows the interviewer that you care about your future at the company, and it will also help you decide if you're a good fit for the position, Vicky Oliver writes in her book "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions."
"Once the interviewer tells you what she's looking for in a candidate, picture that person in your mind's eye," she writes. "She or he should look a lot like you."
'When your staff comes to you with conflicts, how do you respond?'
Knowing how a company deals with conflicts gives you a clearer picture of the company's culture, Harrison says.
But more importantly, asking about conflict resolution shows that you know dealing with disagreements in a professional manner is essential to the company's growth and success.
'What are some of the problems your company faces right now? And what is your department doing to solve them?'
Asking about problems within a company gets the "conversation ball" rolling, and your interviewer will surely have an opinion, Oliver writes.
Further, she says their answers will give you insights into their personality and ambitions and likely lead to other questions.
'What have past employees done to succeed in this position?'
This question is another way to get your interviewer to reveal how the company measures success.
'Where do you see the company in three years, and how would the person in this role contribute to this vision?'
Asking this question will show your interviewer that you can think big-picture, you're wanting to stay with the company long-term, and you want to make a lasting impression in whatever company you end up at, Harrison says.
No comments:
Post a Comment