With this in mind, here are some great questions to ask both interviewers and interviewees:
If you’re a candidate
What are the company’s plans for the future?
This question shows you’re interested in the company, rather just the industry. As the recruiter talks about their plans, this will allow you to show your enthusiasm for the work and the future of the company in response to their answer.
What do you expect from the successful applicant?
The best way to meet your employer’s requirements is to know exactly what they are. How do they review your performance? Is your role likely to change in the future? This is also a good way to see whether or not you would be happy working in that environment.
What new skills can I hope to learn?
This question signifies enthusiasm, but it also displays humility. It is an admission that you don’t know everything, but that you are more than willing to learn. It also allows you to assess what career opportunities the job may bring.
If you’re a recruiter
What are your main strengths and weaknesses?
This helps you find out what candidates are particularly good at, which in turn allows you to figure out how they will fit into your team. When listening to their weaknesses, follow up by asking the steps they have taken – or are taking – to overcome them.
Is it better to be perfect and late, or good and on time?
Perfection is great, but no employer wants their staff to miss deadlines in pursuit of perfection. Most of the time, it’s important to know when a piece of work is good enough. If your company has many important targets to hit, the right answer will obviously be ‘good and on time’.
If you could take back one choice in your career, what would it be?
This question could tell you a great deal about the candidate’s professional life. It can also tell you whether they like their chosen career path, which in turn allows you to assess the enthusiasm they are likely to have for the job.
If you find the process of interviewing and recruiting difficult to do and would like a local recruitment agency to help you out, give one of our team a call today.