5 Questions To Ask During An Interview

As the 21st-century workforce continues to evolve, there will be significant changes to employee demographics, work types, work arrangements, expectations, measurements, benefits and much more, however, one must not forget that at the core of any career, business engagement or opportunity are people and relationships.

So, the ability to deal effectively and appropriately with people will remain in high demand. One of the critical attributes of these people includes their ability to have an engaging conversation, be empathetic, and ask appropriate questions. It is thereby interesting to note that those that ask questions attract more insight and stand a better chance during job interviews.

Job Interviews

Asking the right questions during a job interview is one way to show capability and aptitude. There is evidence that an engaging and prepared candidate leaves a great impression and stands a greater chance of a second interview or getting the job outright. The truth is that asking question extends the interview conversations and provides the recruiter or interviewer the opportunity to know your capabilities and context.

While there are no ideal questions, there are certain questions that reveal one’s degree of preparedness and the truth about asking question is that it extends the interview process and provides the recruiter or interviewer the opportunity to know you as a candidate in a broader context. Listed below are 5 questions to ask during a job interview.

1. Most valuable resource

Start by asking, “What do you call your employees?”

This question goes to the core of identity within the organization, as it seeks to clarify the premium placed on employees. In some organizations, employees are referred to as associates, or co-owners, or servant leaders or volunteers or simply employees. Whatever employees are called isn’t necessarily the bigger issue, it is truly about understanding how leadership or management think about their most valuable resources – people.

2. Organizational reward

During your interview, your focus should be on recognition rather than compensation. Be aware that until an offer has been made and you’ve accepted, everything you say and do is under evaluation. It is very crucial that you do not send the wrong vibe or leave a negative impression with your interviewer(s).

So to ensure there are no surprises, here’s a secret. Inquire about the organization’s outlook on great work. You need to eliminate the ambiguity, so ask what it means to have done an amazing work. Follow up with these clarifying questions:

What does great work look like? What happens to those who have done great work in the past? Then ask why the organization rewards good work. Before long you are discussing rewards, money and compensation. Now isn’t that what you wanted to find out? Exactly!

3. Failure and learning opportunities

Failure is natural and a critical part of the learning process. The “fail forward” philosophy is only as valid as the opportunities available to fail and learn. In many instances, organizations simply pay lip service to failure and often avoid these uncomfortable discussions.

But the truly great organizations and leaders do not hide from failures. They actually internalize and appropriately extract learnings from failures. They inevitably fail forward.

So ask how and why people fail, follow it up with what does the organization do with failures? The answers provide insights into an organization’s risk appetite and approach. These are the amazing clues, that must not be ignored.

4. Decision making and management

In some organizations, decisions are made promptly, in others haphazardly. It is important to understand the core from which decisions are made. Are organizational decisions made by a few, how and when are those decisions communicated to the others? The answers to this question reveal the dynamics of management as well as the salient attributes of leadership.

5. Leadership matters

There is a lot riding on and attributed to leaders. In particular, there is a direct correlation between leadership and individual success in organizations or corporations. So it is absolutely important to know the leadership style of your immediate boss as good as possible. The insights gleaned from this question are critical clues that must not be ignored.

Featured photo credit: Rajiv Patel via flickr.com