Daily Mail Australia – The FIVE questions job seekers should ask recruiters – and the secret to making a good first impression at an interview
Read the article at Daily Mail Australia
1. Why is the position being advertised?
The role of the recruiter is to help the hiring manager find the most suitable person for the role.
They will usually draft the job ad, manage the hiring process as well as search for potential candidates which means they are across all aspects of an advertised role.
Michelle said asking a recruiter if a job is a new position or one that’s become recently vacant is an important question as it can help you get a sense of a prospective employer’s position.
‘If it has become vacant, find out why and for how long it has been vacant,’ she said.
‘This helps to get a sense of urgency and how quickly they need to fill, and also perhaps if they are struggling to fill the role.’
2. What is the scope of the role?
By asking this question you can find out if the role is full-time, a short-term contract or a contract-to-hire.
The careers mentor explained most roles have job descriptions which outline advertised positions in some depth.
However, she added: ‘It should be clear from the job advertisement what the nature of the role is.
‘In asking questions it can help clarify the scope of the role, the tasks you’ll be expected to perform and any expectations the hiring manager has.’
3. What are the most important duties?
It’s expected a candidate will ask a recruiter for more information about an advertised position and this can include questions about duties you will be expected to perform.
‘The recruiter will have this information (often in a formal document,’ the careers expert said.
‘They may or may not be willing to share this with you until you get to a certain point in the interview process.
‘But that shouldn’t stop you asking for it,’ she continued.
‘The more you know about the job, the better you are able to understand whether there’s a good fit between your skill set and ambitions and the job on offer.’
How to impress recruiters:
- Be on time for the interview and dress for the job you want. Punctuality and grooming matters
- Do your research – don’t ask questions that you could have found the answer to by Googling it
- Be prepared and come ready to ask questions. If you don’t ask questions you can look disinterested
- Know why you want the job and why you are the best candidate for it. Come ready to sell your value
- Be personable and friendly. People hire people they like and want to work with
4. What can you tell me about the hiring manager?
This question isn’t so much to get a sense of your potential new manager’s personality, rather it’s to glean some insight as to their management style.
Michelle believes it’s important to understand the culture of an organisation and suggests doing some research online.
She recommends Sites like GlassDoor, Indeed and CareerBliss to gather information about a potential workplace.
‘Ask questions about the team environment and what type of environment the hiring manager is looking to create in the team,’ she added.
‘That way, the question is less personal. Remember, the recruiter is essentially working for the hiring manager – not you – so they aren’t likely to tell you anything negative.’
5. What training opportunities does the company offer?
When asking this question, Michelle advises framing it in such a way so as to cast yourself in a positive light – one that shows you are eager to learn.
‘The candidate can ask about what opportunities the organisation offers for learning and development.’
And lastly, she stresses the value of asking questions, even if you have passed the first hurdle and have gotten to the interview stage.
‘Job interviews shouldn’t be seen as a one-way that is only the recruiter or hiring manager asking questions.
‘Applicants need to come prepared with a list of questions. This shows you are prepared and have thought about the interview.
‘This will help you to determine if this job is the best fit for you, your skill set, career ambitions and values.’