It has been a time of upheaval for many young professionals. This is not counting those who are just stepping into the working world at the worst possible time. With the upcoming recession, jobs are going to be at a premium. When faced with a surplus of qualified candidates for an ever-shrinking pool of jobs, you better make sure you catch the eye during your interview. The key to nailing your job interview isn’t about giving the right answers. Instead, you have to ask the right questions, and the hard-hitting ones will leave a strong impression. However, many candidates fail to do so because they are afraid of looking clueless. Instead of struggling to find the right questions, here are three that we wish candidates will ask more often.
This question allows you to introspect and find out if you are the right fit without coming across as less confident. If the hiring manager goes on to describe someone that sounds a lot like you, then it is a clear indication that you should look elsewhere for a job. If not, you will be miserable in the long run. If there are some minor qualities that you feel you might be able to change for the better, respond accordingly. This shows introspection and a willingness to work on yourself and improve on your shortcomings. That is a highly desirable quality, as no one wants to babysit an employee.
The question also allows you to gain an insight into your hiring manager. You need the right manager to grow your career just as much as they need the right fit for the job. Listen carefully for non-specific but dismissive reasons, such as “they seem lazy”. If managers are making snap judgements without proper justification, you might want to reconsider if this is the man you want to work for and aspire towards. These are warning signs of poor management and leadership skills. It might also hint at an unfair evaluation process which could undermine your contributions to the job.
How many hours do you expect someone in this role to work per week?
This might be a hard topic to bring up, especially in Singapore where some companies still judge you by how many hours your butts remain in your seats. However, this is important for you to determine if the job is going to give you enough free time for your other commitments. Parents, especially, should never be afraid to ask this question. Hiring managers appreciate your candidness when it comes to such iffy topics, as it sets expectations right and save a lot of pain down the road.
Now that most of us are working remotely for the foreseeable future, this becomes an even more important question to address. When you are working from home, there is no way to separate yourself physically from the office, so if you have a manager that expects you to be always-on, you are going to have a rough time. We understand that you want to be diligent. One alternative to asking for shorter hours is to check on their flexibility with work arrangements, as this can allow you to craft a schedule that fulfils your work and familial needs without scaling back the hours.
How often do you adjust the employee’s pay?
Money seems to be the taboo topic when it comes to job interviews, yet it is widely accepted as the common motivator for quality work. Knowing your self-worth is the most important when stepping into any job interviews, as it provides the ground for your negotiation of the remuneration package. When a candidate is sure of their capabilities, it helps the hiring manager make a quicker decision, and they always appreciate that.
The precursor here is that you are indeed capable of commanding your expected salary. Many times, when we see a strong candidate that we really want, we will even go out of the way to exceed their expectations. This way, you could end up with a package that’s even better than what you came in for.
Job interviews are going to be at a premium in the coming months, so make sure that you are well prepared to impress. Don’t be afraid to be that ballsy candidate, those are the ones that leave the most lasting impressions!
