Thought-Provoking Questions To Ask Your Interviewer

Employers take tremendous value in the questions you ask during an interview because they will reveal your level of preparation, engagement, and curiosity for the position. Quit focusing on yourself and how your personal needs will be addressed in the role. Instead, ask stimulating questions to produce a quality conversation that reveals you are invested in the team’s betterment and showcases your unique value.

Captivate your interviewer and position yourself as the ideal candidate by asking these five questions:

“What Efforts Does Your Organization Take To Uphold Its Culture & Values?”

Asking this question shows you take immense value in the company’s work environment and management style. As the candidate, you need to be sure their answer aligns with your most coveted factors and that you can visualize long-term growth. To the employer, it reveals you are not simply looking to jump on the first opportunity thrown your way. Awaiting an opportunity that aligns with your skill-set, core principles, and career aspirations displays yourself as an employee worth pursuing.

“Everyone will tell you that their culture is great, but only examples will prove it.” -Abby Kohut

Does their corporate culture and philosophy prioritize employee happiness and work-life balance? When conflict arises, it is a make-or-break scenario for management to either show authentic leadership or to ensue greater chaos. A poor leader will shut down and pass blame, often leading to a toxic work environment. An admirable leader will set the standard for accountability and turn away from his/her selfish tendencies. Ask your interviewer to share a recent example of when conflict arose and how it got resolved, or create a scenario for them.

“What Goals Do You Have in Mind For Me Within The First Few Months?”

Not all job descriptions are as reliable as the hiring manager or recruiter may claim. Not only should you verify the specific responsibilities, but you should seek to understand the specific goals they have within a 30-60-90 (Learning-Contributing-Leading) day plan. Are the goals realistic and quantifiable, or are they more generalized and open to interpretation? Asking about current projects and objectives within the role shows that you are an achiever, a hard worker, and eager for more responsibility. Additionally, it is your best chance at receiving an ‘inside look’ into a future with the company. 

As the interviewee, you must also be prepared for the scenario of the hiring manager posing this question to you. If you are serious about the job, you can truly set yourself apart by following a similar model in your 30-60-90-day plan. By setting performance goals, learning goals, personal goals, and clear initiatives, you reveal a willingness to work hard and an eagerness to ‘hit the ground running.’ As a result, you will undoubtedly secure competitive advantage as you enter the final interview stages.

“What Do You Like Most About This Company?”

Your interviewer has insight into the company’s strengths, weaknesses, management style, and overall sense of camaraderie. Posing this question naturally gives them the platform to talk about themselves and the topics they know best. They are likely used to hearing this question and know that there is no excuse for a lackluster response. If their response entices you, hitting on key metrics surrounding company values, culture, reputation, and open communication, you can rest assured that no one’s time is being wasted in this process. However, if their answer lacks quality, it is an immediate red flag to your potential job satisfaction and may indicate it is time to move on.

“What New Problems Are You Facing & How Can I Contribute?”

Inquiring on the specifics of other current challenges the company faces (that you have not already addressed) is a great way to start a serious conversation. Your interviewer will not only be able to provide information but share his/her specific opinion as well. Subjecting yourself to the ways your interviewer can see your skill-set being incorporated into their present challenges is a vulnerable proposition but conjointly reveals subtle confidence in your capabilities.

*Pro-Tip* Ask for examples of team chemistry and how the team collaborates daily. Diving into these details will cause your interviewer to picture you as a part of their organization and reveal you as a true team player. 

“Where Do You See Your Company in Five Years?”

Is this company your long-term home? Examining the company’s future provides insight into what makes the company tick. Furthermore, you can uncover whether you would be a fit long-term based on their response. For example, suppose the company reveals no plans to increase in size or expand into new markets. In that case, you have the grounds to fear becoming stagnant in your career. Conversely, suppose their plans to expand into new markets involved shipping you across the country to head up a new branch. In that case, you must be sure that you are open to that prospective scenario.

Asking about the future gives a positive impression to your interviewer because it shows you are thinking about the big picture. In fact, former Goldman Sachs’ Chief of Staff & current Solemates Co-Founder, Becca Brown, revealed to Business Insider that she often wished candidates would ask this question. Brown also stated it was a “great way for candidates to stand out.” Asking this question places stock behind the statement “I see myself here long-term,” because it signifies their answer did not scare you away.

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Five Steps To Winning Your Salary Negotiation

When you receive the elusive job offer and your onboarding process is set to begin, it can be an exciting time. While you are eager to start, there is still one crucial step remaining: negotiation. At this point, your soon-to-be employer has revealed their hand in believing you are the most qualified and integrable candidate. By trusting in your capabilities and taking these five steps in preparation, you can feel confident landing the salary you want while maintaining your professionalism.

Know Your Worth

Showcase the numbers to prove your value. Don’t counter your first salary offer simply because you planned to counter. Your employer will only take your counter legitimately if you have the research and work expertise to support it. Through resources such as GlassDoor, LinkedIn, or Indeed, you can find averages specific to your industry, location, and position. Use these statistics as leverage to get the figure you want. When you’ve completed extensive research into your market value, you make it difficult for your employer to refute your arguments. 

If possible, reveal your specific salary range first. While some studies show value in offering a precise number because it gives the impression that you’ve completed extensive research in the market, many will contest this theory. Offering a specific range will showcase your research while leaving more room for compromise and negotiation than the outdated approach of locking in one number.

“My salary situation wasn’t right. I made five attempts to fix it, then realized I’d made the same mistake every time: I apologized for asking.” – Mika Brzezinski

Know Your Interviewer

When you are completing contract negotiations with an HR representative, your manager, or the company CEO, it is essential to do your research into the individual. Learn about their work history and how their career path led them to be in front of you. Remember, your potential new employer is not out to get you. If you’ve made it this far, it means they like you. Use preliminary conversations to engage in their interests and ask for stories about their success. In addition to furthering your understanding, you will establish trust along the way.

Remember Your Employer Is Prepared To Negotiate

Similar to how you arrive with a minimum salary expectation, your interviewer likely has a maximum offer prepared. Don’t be afraid to ask for more than the original number given, and be sure to practice having this conversation. Reach out to a mentor or friend you trust who can provide feedback and provide a feel for addressing unexpected questions. Before you even have the opportunity to negotiate a new job offer, write down explicit examples of how your skill-set and background will support your and the company’s success. Are there any relevant certifications or licenses you’ve acquired that are worth emphasizing? Be sure to include them.

Familiarize yourself with the trends. A recent Robert Half study revealed that across all industries, 28% of managers admit to increasing the figure for starting salaries since the pandemic began last March. While you can anticipate some pushback on your demands, your employer is likely anticipating pushback as well. Just remember not to drag out your negotiation if you are not receiving the words you want. If they genuinely cannot match your number, there are other alternatives you can pursue, as I will reveal at a later point.

Don’t Fear The ‘No’

Your employer already offered you the job and now expects you to negotiate, so there is nothing to fear. If you know what you are worth, don’t settle in aligning your demands with the work performance you put out. Within your negotiation, there may be a series of counters until the ultimate final number is reached. At worst, you may hear something along the lines of “I’m sorry, but this is our best and final offer.”

If you do hear a ‘no,’ it is essential to remember it is not a product of inferior job performance. No matter what the outcome may be, you must carry yourself confidently while continuing to show gratitude for the opportunity. Being arrogant or haughty in your demands can generate a sour note for your conversation and future relationship.

Going Beyond The Numbers

In some cases, you may reach a stopping point in how high your employer can offer, but there are enticing alternatives to consider. Increasing your health benefits, 401k offerings, PTO days, equity in the company, or flexible work hours are common examples across negotiation. If money is too critical of a factor, consider requesting your annual performance review and salary restructuring to be made biannual. In leveraging these features, you can find common ground in factors outside of money. If you fall into the favorable circumstance of deliberating multiple job offers, here are 10 steps you can take to manage your decision-making process effectively.

Wrap Up

If you know your value, don’t settle in receiving your demands. When you’ve made it this far, it’s clear the company wants to keep you around. Therefore, offering a few extra thousand dollars or company perks is often nothing to mule over, especially when the alternative is reopening the job search. If you know your priorities, be intentional in disclosing them during negotiation. You may not receive all of your demands, but having them laid out allows your employer to come to terms with your top two or three. In any case, staying honest in conversation is imperative for starting your relationship right while maintaining your integrity.

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Get Your Voice Heard with These Tips & Tricks

If you are new to a company or industry, it can be challenging to know when to speak up and how to command a room. This challenge is amplified when operating remotely. Without the ‘in-person’ touch to your daily or weekly meetings, it is difficult to know when to assert yourself and when you may be overstepping your grounds by doing so. In one-on-one conversations, a lack of social interaction and clarity through feedback still occurs. For many employees, this can hinder the level of passion they have for their work, leading to a decline in productivity and results.

Here are three tips and tricks you can implement into your routine today:

Speak Up for Others

If you have introverted tendencies and do not feel comfortable speaking first, start by being a good listener. When others are talking, don’t spend your time planning what you should say next. Instead, stay actively engaged in what they have to say, or you may miss out on essential details that affect your ideas. For more on uncovering the art of listening and its role in your success, click here.

Introverts are commonly observant, courteous, and strategic. If you give others the chance to speak their mind and show an interest in what they have to say, they will do the same for you. Additionally, if one of your great ideas stemmed from a thought shared by your co-worker, share it. Brainstorming new ideas gives way to new solutions, and giving credit to others can go a long way in affirming one another.

“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. -Napoleon Hill

Prepare for Future Conversations

When you have an upcoming meeting, it is critical you research the topics on the agenda. Brainstorm solutions that you can bring to the table from both broad and specific lenses. Even if it’s not you, a co-worker can take one of your ideas and run with it (or vice versa). For example, if you have a meeting set to discuss budgeting plans and new goals for 2021 within your department, don’t go in blindly. Instead, research previous years’ sheets and documents to determine what adjustments can be implemented and why. Having these points ready will show that you are invested in the topic, attentive, and well prepared. If you fear you will have nothing to say, write down a few statistics and questions to have ready when you are called upon during the meeting.

Speak with Confidence and Exuberance

If you lack confidence in your capabilities, take time to reflect on your career path and how you got to where you are today. Organizations want to hear from their employees. If they didn’t want to, you likely would not be in the room. Everyone receives help along the way, but through time and hard work, you have cultivated a level of expertise that gives you the right to share your insights. Now share it! But remember, assertiveness does not have to be accompanied by aggression.

Feeling prepared? You know what needs to be said and how to say it. If you are unsure of how many opportunities you will get to speak, you must make the most of your time. Quickly arrive at the point you are trying to make and provide your reasoning. Although you must keep an open mind to other’s thoughts, don’t get caught rambling on or taking a defensive approach to your opinions.

“It does not require many words to speak the truth.” – Chief Joseph

Bonus Tip – Be Aware of your Body Language

Positive body language goes beyond having proper posture. Don’t be a statue. Show yourself to be alert and engaged in conversations and ready to speak your mind.

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