Five Questions to Impress Potential Employers

It’s common for interviewers to ask if interviewees have any questions before winding up the interview. Why should you come prepared with questions to ask at the end of your interview? Asking questions that show your concern with not just getting hired but being successful in the position go a long way to showing employers you really want to join their team.

It’s also a chance to improve your understanding of the position and doing a great job if you are hired. Here are five questions that will impress potential employers.

1. How will the success of the person doing this job be measured?

Most workers are evaluated by what companies term performance metrics. In other words, the job has some crucial measurements people doing the job should hit. If you’re a salesperson, for example, you need to at least meet your sales quotas. Assembly-line workers are likely evaluated on productivity goals.

Asking how your success in the position would be measured is one way to hone in on the key performance metrics of the job. If you are chosen for the job, then you know what management sees as the most important parts of the job. It’s important to ask this question because many job postings provide small insights into multiple aspects of a job. You might see multi-tasking given as a desired skill, for example. But the company might put that in all their job descriptions, and your manager might see other skills as more important to your job.

2. What are some of the challenges the person in this job will face?

All jobs have challenges. You might face a steep learning curve with new equipment or be joining a team that is slow to accept newcomers. In the interview, it’s crucial to get your manager’s sense of what the challenges will be.

If the interviewer names a challenge you have faced before, you can talk about how you handled it and the results you drove. It’s a way to wow your interviewer. Plus, once you know the potential challenges, you can come up with a plan to deal with them. You won’t be surprised when you walk in.

3. What’s the difference between good and great employees in this job?

Most employers have a sense of what constitutes good performance and what constitutes stellar performance. It’s a good idea to know what great performance in a role looks like. It could be they will give you examples of past employees that give you a clear dividing line.

Great performers tend to be rewarded and promoted. Once you know the picture your boss has in mind of a great performer, you can make a plan to meet and exceed those expectations.

4. I’d like to know more about…

Most interviewers have some questions about the company or the position itself. You should do some research before the interview so you know something about their company — its history, products or mission. Asking a question shows you know the company and are genuinely interested in a position there.

It could be a question about the company’s product line, expansion plans or sponsorship of a local Little League! Ask a question that really matters to you.

5. What are the next steps following this interview?

Many interviews end with the interviewer giving a sense of next steps. Do they have several more candidates to interview, for example? Do they expect a second round of interviews? When are they looking to make their choice?

If the interviewer doesn’t do it, however, asking the next steps shows you are organized and focused on what you need to do. In addition, it lets you know when you can follow up. If they tell you they expect to have a decision made by next Friday, and you don’t hear anything by next Friday, it’s acceptable to e-mail them and reiterate your interest in the job. People who follow up and express interest have more chance of getting the job than people who do neither.

Ready to put your interview skills to work? Apply today for a new opportunity in northern Nevada with The Applied Companies!