The Art of the Interview: Crafting Questions that Get Results

Have you been interviewing and not landing the job? It might be the questions you're asking during the interview. Try switching up your questions. I have used some of these questions and it has helped me understand the company and the individual I am being interviewed by.

How?!

Read on!

I recommend staying away from these questions. Take what you like!!

What is my 30/60/90 day plan?

This question can weaken you as a candidate. A recruiter or hiring manager, isn't going to truly know what your 30/60/90 day plan will look like...until you start the job. A great manager will set you up for success and work with you on what your targeted goal should be for your 30/60/90 day plan. I suggest asking in the interview, "What key metrics are needed for this role?" OR, "What are the key KPIs needed for this role?"

What is the culture like?

Instead ask: What do YOU like about the company? Why do you enjoy your job? What is the last learning opportunity you had at this company? If an employee isn't performing well, how do you handle that? That question will help you understand how they coach individuals and how they handle employees that need to perform better.

Stay away from questions that you can find on Google

Example: What is the company size, what is the company about, what technology does the company use...the list can go on! This shows the recruiter or hiring manager that you haven't done much research about the company you're applying for. Instead, you can ask, "What have you learned about your role and your team?"

How many candidates are in the process?

This adds no value to you. And can cause some unnecessary anxiety.

What does a typical day look like?

I usually ask this: What are the top 1 to 2 deliverables needed for this role? What skill set do you need most on your team right now?

What is your turnover rate?

I usually ask, "How did your company handle the employees during COVID OR a bad market? Did you place employees on other projects? What did the company do?" This helps me understand the stability of the company and the role I am going in for.

My favorite question to ask

If you could've known one thing about your role, before starting it what would it be and why? I was asked this question, once, and it really made me think. I really enjoy asking this question because it helps me have a better insight of what I could be getting into.

Other things to consider

The good old... STAR METHOD! State a problem, to end with a solution. Make sure you have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Paint a picture with your words.

I know what I said, but what did you hear? This is a good question to ask because it helps clear up any miscommunication.

Creating specific questions, rather than general questions, will help you understand the company more and the possible team you might be working on. It will help you get better insight if you want to work with this team/company.