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3 Power Questions To Nail A Job Interview
"Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers."
Voltaire
I have seen it over and over again in the people that have come to interview for a job. Their qualifications are perfect, they are dressed sharply and they even ask for the job at the end of the interview. Only one thing is lacking......they did not leave a positive impression with the questions they asked.
Usually in the interview process the interviewers will ask "Do you have any questions for us/me?" This is where I see the candidate fall apart. They look down at their notes from the interview and a bead of sweat begins to form on their forehead. You can see them mentally kick themselves for forgetting to check the company's website last night for possible questions. So, they throw out a few lame ones like....."What exactly will this job entail?" or "What types of products and services do you sell?" While these are not terrible questions, they are not "get the job" questions.
A powerful question is the type that stops the interviewer in their "thought" tracks and they need to pause because they have never considered the question before....
Let me give you three powerful questions that a candidate could or should ask in any job interview:
- Let's pretend for a moment that you hired me and we are one year into the position looking back. What would have to happen for you to say I was a successful hire? (This causes the interviewer to prioritize the top 2-3 tasks that must get done in a one year period in order for you to be successful. This allows you to show them that you have demonstrated these skills/characteristics in other jobs.)
- How does this role or position fit into the strategic goals for the company? (If you are able to find the strategic goals on their website then make certain you mention those goals. The reason this stops the interviewer in their "thought" tracks is because they may not be aware of or remember the strategic goals of the company. Maybe there aren't any or they aren't well known. The fact you know they need them and you want to help the overall organization succeed puts you at a higher level of thinking and concern than most candidates.)
- What are the biggest challenges facing this position? (This helps you understand what previous employees may have struggled with and how you can use your skills and experience to overcome them. You may receive the same response as the first question but often you will hear the interviewer's fears about the position.)
There it is...three powerful questions that will help you stand out as a strategic thinker and help you nail the interview. One word of caution...you are not asking these questions to make the interviewer appear weak and you appear superior, rather you are humbly asking these questions to help you better position your strengths in relation to the responses they give.
Question for You:
Do you often stumble at the portion of the interview where they ask if you have any questions? Do you feel that it is better to keep your mouth shut for fear of asking a foolish question?
Action for You:
The question portion of the interview process is not a time to stumble and sweat but rather a time to rise and shine. If a company is interviewing ten qualified candidates who all start to sound and look the same, the questions you ask may be the only thing that differentiates you from the others, which in the end, will help you nail the interview and land your dream job.
"I never learn anything talking. I only learn things when I ask questions."
Lou Holtz
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