Questions to ask before the interview
It’s not the responses you get. It’s all about the questions you ask.
By Jacquie Liversidge
As I’ve written about before, the digital age has ushered in a time of job application havoc– employers face completely irrelevant and generic applications submitted through the likes of SEEK, Indeed and LinkedIn, which allow candidates to upload their application and apply for many roles, often with no effort involved at all.
This has the effect of employers very quickly scanning applications, because they are faced with so many.
That is why it has become more important than ever to demonstrate that you are a real human, with a real interest in the role.
So before you put together your application and submit it online, make sure you call the employer and ask these questions:
- What are the primary challenges of the role?
- How is performance measured?
- How can the role best suit future innovation within the business?
- What are the long and short term goals for the business, and how does my role fit into this?
- What is the size of the team I’ll be working in?
- What sort of training could best suit the role?
The reason you want to ask these questions is perhaps not so much for your own personal interest– a lot of these questions you would find out when you get the role– it’s these questions which have the effect of introducing your application.
You’ve asked targeted questions, your genuinely invested in making sure you’re suitable– you’re saving their time and yours, and that is one of the most valuable things you can do.
It also gives you a chance to present yourself before your resume and cover letter does.
If you can establish a rapport and demonstrate initiative for the role well before you even apply, you are already going to be miles ahead of the game.
It’s scary, but it’s worth it. Hiring staff is deeply personal, but the application process is not.
That said, it’s always what you make it.
Ask us any questions you might have about the process. And as always, happy hunting!
