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Interviewing can be nerve-wracking for anyone. You have to prepare with as much research about the company as you possibly can do in order to have an intelligent conversation with the interviewer. On top if it all, you have to meet with people you don’t know, in a place you’re not familiar with, all while hoping that you’ll come across in a way that is attractive to them. With all of this to deal with, you may forget something very obviously: This job, this company and this interviewer are undergoing interviews to. This is your opportunity to learn as much about the company as they are learning about you.
Here are four questions that will help you get a solid understanding of the position at hand, and will help you to determine if it’ll be a good fit.
1.) Are you able to tell me why the last person in this position decided to leave?
While not all companies have open policies when it comes to sharing why employees left, it is a question worth asking. If the employee left for a better opportunity or was promoted within the company, you know that this position is a launching pad where you can gain experience and move forward in your career.
If the person left because he/she was not satisfied with the job, or if the interviewer tells you that many people have come and gone within the job recently, you know that this may be a somewhat unstable environment. Red flags aren’t green for a reason – so definitely take a moment to process the interviewer’s response to this question.
2.) How long do people usually stay in one position at the company? How long do they stay at the company in general?
These questions will let you know if there is strong room for growth in the company. It’s not as demanding as asking “When do you see me getting a promotion?” before you are even offered a job. The worst way to come across during an interview is to act as though you are not interested in the job at hand, but just in moving up. Employers will see that as an issue. They want someone who can do the job the have open now, not hypothetical jobs in the future. It’s great to see a lower-level position as an opportunity to get your foot in the door, and expressing that, but make sure you’re ready to do a stellar job in the position you’re about to be hired for.
Another great thing about this question is you can see if people stay and move up in the company, or if they just leave after a few years. If you see a pattern of people staying with the company between 3-5 or maybe even 7+ years, that’s a sign that the company takes care of its employees. If employees are treated badly enough, no matter the situation, they usually find a way out.
3.) What are issues or problems that I could solve for you now if I were to be offered the position?
This question is going to help you two different ways. One, it shows the employer you are a go-getter and you’re ready to get to work. It screams to them that you’ll be the solution to the problem, not another headache.
Two, it allows you insight into the world of the new opportunity. Too often, candidates wear rose-colored glasses during an interview, thinking the new position will be much better than the last just because it’s new. That’s not always the case. By seeing what a few obstacles would potentially be, you’ll be better able to gauge the situation and understand whether or not this is something you’d like to take on.
This question should replace your “Tell me about a typical day in this position.” That question will get you a generic timeline, this question will give you focus.
4.) Do you have any questions, or doubts, as to why I would not be a good fit for this position? I’d love to clear anything up because after speaking, I know I’d be a great fit for this position.
Only ask this question if you know for a fact that you would be good at the job – and you have the examples to back it up.
This requires thinking about the response to this question, if they need it, beforehand. By asking this, you’re putting yourself out on a limb, but in a good way. It allows you to make sure you did all you could to tell the interviewer how you could hold your own in the position. It will also help clear up any confusion that you may not have even known was there to begin with.
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