I found these questions were very helpful. However, the best thing you can do is research the company. Create your own questions.
My Dad’s advice has always been “you are interviewing them, they are not interviewing you.”
That is really clique but it’s true. The interview is to assess if you fit the requirements. It also evaluates if we communicate well together.
Unfortunately hard lesson learned on my part is if you go into interview desperate or have anxiety you will fail.
Now managing anxiety is different topic for a another day and its different from person from person.
Only after so many years of experience will desperation or anxiety subside.
Unfortunately, interviewing is like dating.
Confidence is really key and communicating that you want them or this position.
No really express “I am interested in this!”
Without confidence, you are going to struggle.
I also struggle with confidence, so I want to share with you what actually works.
What is the strategy for company or product XYZ?
This is a great question.
It will help you understand how well the organization is able to organize themselves. It will also show if they have a vision for their company.
Companies without vision or strategy are cursed.
Avoid organization without strategy they will make your career just as lost.
It’s like person without a plan or strategy to arrive at designation.
like it only makes sense if your 18 you have no plan and that is ok.
However, when its a room full of adults 30+ ages its shouldn’t be happening.
Organization that is unable coordinate the resources, and capabilities the team to execute in the market/environment will only see
So many businesses are pre-disposed to “action.” This is because many are action-oriented. “Doing whatever it takes to succeed” is a necessary part of business.
Taking action without a plan, however, means you are at the whims of luck.
You are a business who doesn’t know itself or others around it without strategy or competitive analysis.
What are the goals and objectives for XYZ?
This really important if organization can distinguish the difference there goals and objectives.
Goals are conceptual.
Objectives are specific in scope requirements.
A goal is boarder like
- “increase market share”
Objective is like
- “increase sales by 10% to achieve 2% in market share in 3 months”
What are the expectations for this position specifically?
This is really critical to ask, what are the expectations? and you should write those down.
Don’t forget those first impressions because most likely people in that organization operate by those expectations.
Its going be really important in your career to meet those expectations, manage expectations or exceed those expectations.
This is important for your mental health is to have discernment.
Are these expectation reasonable? can I achieve this?
How does this reflect the culture of the company?
What key metrics do want me to hit for this role?
Follow up questions
- More business operated hold each department OKR
- OKR is somewhat new
- How do you track metrics?
- What kind of metrics are you tracking?
What are the target customers or segments?
This should help you asses whether company has good grasp on their customers.
Do they have clear idea of who there customers are?
What you should look out for is
“How they talk about customers”
if they using language like “customers are suckers!” or disrespectful language around customers.
Do not work around those company.
if they use language like “I love our customers! they are so passionate”
You want to work with those companies.
Who are your competitors?
The company will possibly not disclose this information to you.
However, if they response like “we are the best! we have no competitors” without key reasons explaining why avoid that company like the plague.
This tells us they do not have good mechanism to look in the mirror.
it just shows they are out of touch with what there competitors are doing? what they themselves do on a daily basis.
its a form of cognitive dissociation when the numbers/sales don’t back that evidence.
it also communicates a lack of process.
What are some real gaps you see from the product currently and customers?
Again, it’s a similar question. It’s asking how competent the company is.
Do they see gaps, or do they confidently present why the product is mature?
This also tells us what problems we could tackle in organization later.
is the company honest with itself about its issues?
What do you value in a business partnership?
This question I developed because its builds trust with strangers.
The interviewer in front of you interviews 100s of people every week and no one really considers what they think?
I actually learn about the “36 Questions for Increasing Closeness”.
They won’t work in a job interview but I tweak one question
I think no one ever asks interviewers what they think. This is the best question I have ever come up with because it’s considerate.
It prompts a real, honest, and thought-provoking response.
Like interview will remember you asking that and you should write that down and remember.
Final Notes
Remember to keep the conversation honest, and be fluid, use curiosity to drive your questions.
Keeping natural back and forth.
Just remember interview is a test to see you click with person across from you.