Great Interview: Examination or Dialogue?

'I won’t ask questions, but if I get hired, then I’ll figure it out. What if I ask something wrong and because of this I won't get a position?' - roughly the same fear lives in the minds of the majority of job seekers who come for an interview.

I believe that a good interview is a respectful conversation, not an advanced interrogation. Not only the company evaluates the applicant, but also the applicant evaluates the company. As a recruiting specialist, I am always glad to have a full-fledged dialogue: when we communicate with a candidate on an equal footing, and I see sincere attention and interest in the position.

If you're familiar with the fear of “asking too much,” read the list of questions I've put together in this article. They certainly will not discredit you in the eyes of an HR specialist; on the contrary, they will help to create a pleasant impression of you. And a bonus: you will clarify in advance all the important points that can become pitfalls of your new job.

1. What will be my day-to-day responsibilities?

As a rule, a wide range of qualifications is required from an employee, but the work routine comes down to several main processes. I advise you to clarify what things await you on a daily basis and think in advance: is this good for you?

2. What values does your company have and what kind of people do you want to see among your employees?

In addition to professional qualities, we all have unique character traits and worldview. We spend a lot of time at work, and even if it is a remote working with correspondence in chats and calls, psychological comfort when communicating with colleagues is very important. There is nothing to say about values: if you internally disagree with them, it will be very difficult for you to work for the result. It is better not to break yourself and look for a more suitable option.

3. Why do current employees love to work in the company?

I remember how I was asked this question and with what pleasure I answered it, telling the applicant what I like about Vilmate so much. And the person immediately got a concrete idea of what awaits him and whether my words touched him. If you asked, and your interviewer hesitated or answered insincerely and without enthusiasm, this is a warning sign.

4. What is my KPI?

It is very important to understand what results are expected from your work. This is not always unambiguous and obvious, it is better to clarify and immediately set clear goals in your work. Of course, the HR manager should tell you about it himself, but if he forgot - be sure to ask!

5. What are my development prospects?

Ambition and a desire to move up the career ladder is not a shame. But the company does not always envisage promotion and development, if this is important for you, be sure to ask. On the other hand, if you plan to stay in your position for as long as possible and are not interested in moving up, it is better to warn about this.

6. With whom will I work closely?

Rare positions require complete independence, usually we are in contact with a certain circle of colleagues. Inquire about this in advance, evaluate whether you like this structure. And if you get a job, you will immediately understand with whom you should establish contact in the first place.

7. What difficulties will I face in this position?

This is a very important question, I advise you to ask it and listen carefully to the answer. If you are assured that everything is easy and simple, this is a reason to think hard. It is best to know in advance about the scale of the problems that await you and assess whether you can potentially cope with them or are not ready for such a job?

And finally, I left a question that I rarely hear, but it makes me very happy every time.

Bonus question: Are you potentially happy with everything about me, or are there doubts related to my past experience and resume?

With this question, you will kill two birds with one stone.

First, make it clear that you are truly interested in the job. Second, give the interviewer a chance to voice any doubts about you and answer them immediately. And this is a great way to tip the scales in your favor!

I have conducted many interviews and from my experience I can say: such questions (and similar ones) are very helpful to really get to know the candidate and assess him. Of course, it is important to find out the working conditions, social guarantees and the size of the salary. But the things I listed are just as important.

At Vilmate, we aim to build partnerships not only with clients, but also within the company: so that each employee feels in his place, understands his prospects and whether he is on the right path with us. This allows the team to build a comfortable microclimate and makes our business processes efficient and humanly comfortable and pleasant.

If you come for an interview, ask questions, and you are not answered - be sure to think about why this is happening? Would you be comfortable working in this position and wouldn't there be a situation when they didn't explain anything to you and then accused you of poor results?

I advise you to clarify all the points "on the shore" and agree to work that will satisfy you from all sides.

Thanks for reading this article! Hopefully your interviews are now going to be smooth, helpful, and as informative as possible!