Last week I shared the first two interview questions that you will undoubtedly encounter in some form during the hiring process. As a former hiring manager with 18+ years of experience in the business world and an executive career search consultant, I am familiar with the hiring process and have noticed that interview questions can be summed up by five key questions that you must be prepared to answer.
The first two interview questions, “Why are you here?” and “What can you do for us?” are some of the first interview questions you will be asked during your initial meeting. The next three are more probing interview questions that you will be asked and evaluated upon as you progress through the hiring process.
The Five Types of Interview Questions, Part 2
3. Will you fit in?
The next of our five interview questions, “Will you fit in?”, relates to the company culture and your own principles that guide you in business. Hiring managers will not likely ask you this exact question outright, but may try to get at this information by asking “What do you know about our company culture?” or “What do you believe compromises the ethical workplace?”
These interview questions all speak to the same core inquiry--will you fit in with the existing company culture and ethical standards? This is one of the interview questions that not only the hiring manager should be asking, but you should also ask yourself. Otherwise, you may end up at a company where you do not fit and where your moral standards end up compromised.
Before you even apply for a position, you should research the company culture and their code of ethics. You can search for reviews of the business online, including statements from current and previous customers or clients, and even reviews from current and previous employees. Scope out the company website, blog, and social media accounts to get an insight into their company culture. Look into whether the company has won any industry awards for excellence in service, as well as local awards such as “The best place to work in Kansas City.” Be sure that they do business with integrity and that they treat their clients, customers, and employees with respect. Once you have sufficiently concluded that you indeed fit in with the company culture and agree with their ethics, then apply away!
When answering these interview questions, make it clear that you have done your homework and that you understand and appreciate the company culture and morals. For example, you could say that you read the company’s code of ethics as well as several client testimonials and that you admire that the business actually holds itself to its stated standards. Be sure to mention your guiding principles so that the hiring manager sees that they mesh with those of the company.
To prepare for these types of interview questions, you not only need to do your research so that you can speak to the specifics about the company culture and ethics and how you’ll fit in, but you should also understand how your actions outside of the actual interview affect the hiring manager’s perception of you. How you act around other employees--people manning the front desk, for example--play into how you fit into the company culture. Be sure to ask for the name of the person who takes you to the hiring office, give them a nice handshake, and seek them out to thank them when you leave. Your physical dress also plays into your answer to these interview questions. I recommend that you dress two levels above what you would wear to work every day to demonstrate your professionalism.
4. What makes you different?
This is one of the most important interview questions that you will be asked during the hiring process. Often disguised as “Tell me about yourself.”, “What are you strengths?”, or “What makes you the ideal candidate for this position?”, this question relates to your brand, your unique selling proposition.
When answering these kinds of interview questions, you must remember that you are different from other applicants: no other person has your exact combination of skills, experience, achievements, and education. As in a resume, you should be prepared to sum up your unique combination with 3-4 core strengths that define you. Think about what parts of your experience and specific results to highlight, selecting ones that are most relevant to the position and that have impressive results.
Avoid launching into a long-winded explanation when answering these interview questions. You do want to toot your own horn a bit, but stay focused and succinct. Begin with a brief background on your education, give the number of years of experience you’ve had in your field, and highlight your most recent job. Then move into explaining your core strengths, touching briefly upon how you gained and honed these skills. Conclude by asking the hiring manager if they have any more questions about your background. Controlling the direction of the interview like so shows confidence and impresses hiring managers.
5. How much will you cost us?
As I touched on in my post about compensation negotiation, you should not discuss pay until you have been officially offered the position. Still, hiring managers may ask the interview questions “What starting salary do you expect?” or “What compensation did you receive at your last job?” These types of interview questions force you into a Goldilocks situation. Hiring managers want to establish that your expectations and their bottom line are not too far apart--not too high, or else they will not be able to afford you, and not too low, or you may not be at the level they need for the position. They also want to make sure that you will be a good return on investment.
Still, you should avoid answering these interview questions. Leaving salary open for negotiation during the interview process means that you will have more leverage when offered the position, because by then, the company knows they want you and may be willing to offer you more. If asked one of these interview questions, respond with “I’m sure we can come to an agreement about compensation once I am offered the position,” or “I think I can answer more intelligently about compensation once I know more about the position,” and then move into a pointed question about the job or the company.
If the hiring manager continues to press the issue, ask what their salary range is. Even if the answer is up to 25% less than your expectation, do not halt the interview process--again, they may be willing to offer you more once you are offered the position. After all, you will be establishing yourself as an ideal candidate by sharing SOAR stories and communicating your unique skills!
Prepare for Any Interview Questions with Career Resume Consulting
Understanding the five core interview questions will help you better prepare for the hiring process, allowing you answer questions specifically and without hesitation, impressing the hiring managers. You simply have to prepare your responses to the five key interview questions and know how your answers are relevant to the questions you’re asked during the hiring process. For more on interview questions and preparing to speak with hiring managers, check out my free webinars or contact me directly at (816) 600-2478.
