It has been
said thousands of times….interviewing for a job is a lot like dating.
Picture
this…you are on a wonderful date, the setting is perfect, your potential
partner-to-be brought you flowers but… all he is talking about is how great he
is and how his qualities would be a perfect match. Wouldn’t you find it strange
that he does not want to know what you have to bring to the table?
So why does it
happen so often that candidates don’t have any questions at the end of an
interview?
I guess a lot
of people don’t dare to ask questions out of fear…fear of asking a silly
question, fear of appearing too eager or fear of failure by asking the wrong
question. However, asking questions, and especially asking the right questions
are a crucial part of an interview. Not only will it give an indication of your
genuine interest, it will also allow you to assess whether this will be the
right opportunity for you.
Review the
website, the annual report or the investor comments to identify some smart
questions that indicate that you have reflected on your possible contribution
to the goals of the company you are talking to. It’s ok to write them down and
use them as a ‘cheat sheet’ during the interview. After all, when you attend a
regular business meeting, you also bring notes.
Target your
questions to the people that you are talking to. A selection process usually
consists of different steps. You don’t want to fire all your guns in one
conversation. Questions on leadership style, company culture or values are
typically more targeting an HR audience, whereas questions on upcoming goals,
milestones or plans for expansion will be more appropriate when talking to the
senior management.
When it comes
down to ‘silly’ questions….well, we all have our fair share of examples. Key
here is reflection up front. When a question appears silly, think about it
overnight or talk about it with some people in your close environment (or ask
me of course J). If, after some reflection, you are not convinced that it is a solid
question …don’t ask.
And last but
not least…asking questions is not similar to putting people in front of a
firing squad. You are better of off asking a limited number of genuine and
relevant questions than rattling off a whole list of questions just to show
that you came prepared.
Asking the
right questions is an art in itself. It can make you nail the job or it can
forever ruin your chances.
I look forward
to hearing from you,
Isabel
Through a
personalized and tailor-made approach, Ingenium Executive Search aspires to
assist you in attracting the right talent that matches the DNA of your company
Check out our
website http://www.ingenium-search.be
Follow me on
Twitter @IngeniumSearch
