When it comes to your job interview, there are dozens of things that you can do to improve your odds of getting hired, but one of the easiest little interview adjustments that you can do is to research the company well enough that you can ask intelligent questions of your own at the end of the interview. Most employers will end their interviews with the classic, “do you have any questions for me?” This is your chance to stand out from the crowd, so be sure to make use of it.
Some of the best questions that you can ask are going to be generic in nature, but you can fine tune them as you see fit. For example, every single employer that you speak with is going to be looking at you and wondering what you can do to help them improve their business. Asking a question like, “how do you gauge your employees’ performances?” let’s them know that you are hoping that you can outperform as an employee and start contributing to the company right away. Another question in this line of thinking can be tailored to the specific company. For example, if you apply at United States Steel, you can ask what they do to ensure that they stand out apart from the other steel companies nearby.
The question that you ask at the end of your interview is also a way for you to show that you want the job. You might be surprised that a lot of people apply for jobs randomly, without giving thought to whether or not it’s the right opportunity for them. Employers really don’t want employees like this. They want someone that they can trust to put a great effort into their job, and they want someone that has contemplated whether or not they can contribute to their company over the long run. If you ask the right question here, you have a better chance of showing them that you are the person that can contribute in the way that they hope.
This is just one part of the interview, but it’s a very important part of it. You obviously want to work on the rest of your interview technique and refine your people skills, but this is a good place to start as it gets you thinking about your place in a specific company, and of course, your place in the bigger picture, too. When you are able to honestly look at yourself and your skills and then deduce how you can contribute in a work setting from that, you are one step closer to landing your dream job.
Whether you’re applying for a job in Pittsburgh, or you’re applying for a job on the other side of the country, this is a helpful interview technique. The more that you can show that you have put thought and effort into how you can help the company, the more likely you are to stand out and show the hiring manager you are speaking with that you are the right person for the job.