What to Say When You Are Interviewing Someone
When interviewing someone, the most essential component is asking excellent questions. Without questions for them to answer, they won’t be able to sell themselves effectively.
Asking candidates, “What are your career goals?” can provide them with an opportunity to explain how their skills and strengths could benefit the company.
1. Tell them why you are interested in the position
Why did you apply for this job? Perhaps something about its culture or hours caught your eye; or maybe its proximity to your daughter’s school prompted your application. Whatever the case may be, there was likely some factor behind why you applied and you should be able to state this in an interview when asked why they’re interested in your role.
This question gives your interviewer an indication of your knowledge and enthusiasm for the job in question. An effective response would include sharing some passion you have for the industry as well as how you think you can contribute to achieving the company’s mission.
Avoid making vague claims such as flexible working hours and proximity to your daughter’s school; such statements don’t add anything of substance and could give the impression that you are just applying for any job that comes along. When responding, highlight professional skills which align with the job description – for instance if the position requires strong analytical or presentation abilities you could discuss prior experience you have gained in these areas.
Focus on keeping your answer within two minutes to avoid sounding robotic or over-rehearsed. Furthermore, practicing it beforehand with someone can ensure that it sounds natural.
2. Tell them why you are a good fit for the company
As part of any interview process, it’s crucial that candidates be asked why they believe they would make the ideal candidate for the position in question. This allows them to express their enthusiasm about it while showing you they possess all of the qualifications needed.
This question allows the candidate to share more about themselves and their background with the interviewer, such as what distinguishes them and how those skills would benefit the company. Doing this will enable the interviewer to assess why this candidate is an ideal fit for the job and may lead them down a path toward hiring them.
Answering this question honestly without making negative comparisons is key for success in any job search, yet making unfair comparisons against other candidates should never be used as a tactic to appear better yourself. Instead, focus on your hard and soft skills which could benefit the company as well as why they make for an ideal match in terms of job application success.
Finalize your answers by emphasizing how well you fit into the culture of the company, such as by emphasizing common interests or discussing shared values that the interviewer and you share. This will show that you are an ideal match and that they will enjoy having you as their new employee.
Stay confident and focused throughout the interview, as any wavering in confidence or vague responses could send red flags to an interviewer. Furthermore, it’s helpful if your interviewer indicates that they will follow-up soon – this way candidates can mark their calendar and prepare themselves for potential follow-up interviews or calls from them in time.
3. Ask them about their experience
Interviewers ask about your work experience to gain two essential pieces of information: 1) your past working experiences and 2) what value can bring to their company. If you can answer both of these questions effectively in your response, your chances for securing employment should increase substantially!
Memorizing responses may lead to stiff and ineffective answers; to provide more engaging answers, focus on creating an interesting narrative around your professional experiences instead. This will enable the interviewer to get a fuller picture of who you are as an individual while providing you with more opportunities for customized replies.
If you find it hard to create an effective narrative around your experience, another good way of showing that you possess the necessary qualities for the position and are familiar with their business model is highlighting your skillset in relation to company needs.
Interviewers use this question as an indicator of your ability to deal with conflict and provide leadership. Try not to mention any negative aspects of the situation but instead highlight how successfully you dealt with it.
If there are any experiences that set you apart from other candidates, do not be shy to mention them during your answers. This could range from personal hobbies and abilities that distinguishes you to skills acquired throughout life – this will show the interviewer why you are the perfect fit for their team!
4. Ask them about the company culture
Company culture refers to the collective beliefs, attitudes and behaviors shared among employees within an organization’s workforce that form its daily experience and tie into its external brand and messaging strategy.
An engaging culture is integral to attracting talent, engaging employees and increasing productivity, improving a company’s image and reputation, as well as driving revenue and profitability growth.
Asking potential candidates questions about company culture can be an effective way to assess whether they fit with both the job and organization. Culture questions could cover any number of subjects such as:
Do they embrace diversity and inclusion, handle conflicts in the office effectively and prioritize work-life balance as part of their company culture? Answers to these questions can provide a window into its culture.
If the interviewee appears hesitant or unwilling to answer these questions, this could be a telltale sign that their company does not encourage open dialogue or promote a healthy work-life balance. Conversely, being able to articulate and apply your core values shows they understand why maintaining a positive workplace culture is so essential.
Consider how candidates will react if they disagree with decisions made by management, particularly if this involves conflict. An adaptable and engaging individual who can respectfully voice opposing views demonstrates their adaptability and engagement, something particularly useful in roles where collaboration with different teams is vital; additionally it gives a great indication of how they treat their coworkers; such candidates would make great additions to any team.
5. Ask them about their goals
As part of an interview, it’s critical to ask candidates about their goals and ambitions if you hope to gain an in-depth understanding of what drives them and whether or not they would work well within your team environment. Furthermore, asking these questions will enable you to determine if they are indeed appropriate candidates for the position in question.
Ask more specific questions such as, what are their long-term career plans or goals for next year. These types of queries work best with individuals who have an established plan in mind for how their career goals align with their values and philosophies.
Another good question to pose when interviewing potential employees is what sacrifices they’re willing to make in order to reach their goals. This can give an indication of their motivation and hard work ethic; plus it will allow you to assess whether they would fit well in your company environment as someone unwilling to make sacrifices may not succeed there.
This question can be an uncomfortable one to answer and may cause stress among candidates. To prevent this from happening, begin the interview by starting out by making some small talk, before moving on to more serious queries. This should help reduce their levels of anxiety and make them more at ease during their interview experience.
This question shows your curiosity and an interest in their accomplishments, which demonstrates not just being interested in someone to complete your task but rather in their personal and professional growth.
