One of the biggest, most influential mindset shifts about a successful job search is that it’s not about you. A successful job seeker or interviewee understands that their job isn’t just to communicate about themselves. It’s to communicate how they can serve the company’s needs.
To this end, I’m thrilled to share some savvy job interview advice from my friend and colleague Heather Austin.
Heather is a talented and personable career coach offering expertise on LinkedIn strategy, job search, and career development. Check her out at ProfessorAustin.com
Heather recommends turning the tables on a typical interview Q&A by preparing in advance a set of questions you can ask your interviewer.
Asking questions during your interview shows your interest in the position and helps you decide if this company is the right fit for you. It transforms the interview from a tense interrogation into a two-sided conversation. It positions you and your interviewer as allies in finding the right fit for this position.
And best of all, it helps you understand more about the company so you can more effectively communicate how you can meet its needs.
Here are 5 great questions to ask an employer in a job interview:
- Can you tell me more about the team I will be working on and how this company fosters a healthy team environment?
- What have prior employees done to succeed in this position?
- What are some things you like about working with this company?
- Tell your interviewer in your own words how you interpret the position and if you missed anything.
- What are the next steps in the process and do you need anything else from me?
Check out Heather’s full video here.
And here’s another hot interview tip: Don’t ask about salary, vacation, or benefits at the first interview. (That would be like asking someone if they want kids on the first date!) Save those topics for the second or even third interview.
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