A recent poll conducted by Bayt.com about Ramadan in the MENA region revealed that 88% of professionals plan to make more time for job hunting during this holy month. While Ramadan is the best time to devote as much as you can of your time to prayer and spiritual reflection, it is also a great time to maximize your job hunting efforts and increase the chances of landing a great job.
Picture this: you’re sitting down for an interview at a great company for a very exciting position. You’re all set, you’re feeling confident, you arrive on time, you’re dressed to impress, you have thoroughly researched the position and the company, you’re prepared for a technical assessment, you have practiced answering the most common interview questions, and everything goes A-OK, until the interview is almost over, and the interviewer asks: “So, do you have any questions for me?” and then your mind goes completely blank!
The scenario above has two outcomes; you either panic and reply with “Not really. I have no questions.” or you will improvise and ask the first question that pops into your head. If you do not have some clear questions prepared to ask the interviewer, you run the risk of them assuming that you’re not prepared, and will lose a great opportunity to go beyond the information provided, and dig a little deeper to get more specific details about the position or company.
By the time the interview is over, you might think that the interviewer has already provided you with enough information about the job, but the truth is, there are some important details about your potential employer that might not get covered during the course of the interview. So always take this question into consideration when you’re preparing for a job interview. Think of it as your chance to demonstrate your interest in the position to the interviewer, while gauging whether or not a job is the right fit for you at the same time.
To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 insightful questions to ask in an interview:
1- Can you walk me through a typical workday for this role?
This is a great question to start with. The answer you’ll receive will go beyond the general responsibilities that are already listed in the job description. It will basically give you a more realistic and comprehensive idea of the day-to-day duties and responsibilities that the job entails, the workload, the primary expectations, and the skills needed to succeed at the job.
2- What do you enjoy most about working here?
Whether your interviewer is your future direct manager or an HR recruiter, asking them about their favorite aspect of working at the company will help you understand the company’s culture better through their attitude and their passion (or lack thereof) while speaking about the benefits and perks of working at the company. You can also determine how much trust they have in the company’s culture and its vision and mission.
3- How are employees recognized for their success and hard work?
Knowing if a company adopts a culture of recognition could be a great indicator of how much the company values and nurtures its top talent. With each passing day, the competition within the workplace rises, and having a clear idea about management recognizes and appreciates top-performing and hard-working employees, is extremely important in helping you decide if the company will offer an engaging motivating environment that will help you reach the height of your potential.
4- What type of career advancement opportunities does the company offer?
The answer to this question will reveal the level of commitment that the company has to the development and retention of its employees. Proven examples of employee development within the organization, offered learning and training tools and resources, as well as an overall attitude of valuing and celebrating initiators and contributors, are all great signs of a healthy work environment.
5- What’s the next step of this process, and when can I expect to hear from you?
Asking the interviewer questions about the next steps of the hiring process is a great way to end the interview on a high note. Such questions will not only display your genuine interest in the position, but they will also enable you to get an understanding of the interviewer’s timeline for filling in the position and their eagerness to move forward with your application.
There you have it, our top 5 questions to ask your interviewer! Consider this list as a blueprint for the type of questions you should be asking, and don’t be afraid to weave in any other question that might be relevant to you as well. Just make sure to remain confident, professional and remember that the impression that you want to leave the interviewer with is that of someone who is professional, well-prepared and enthusiastic about the job. Continuing to improve your job hunting strategies during Ramadan, you will lay the groundwork for landing the job of your dreams.
