Did you know that the questions that you ask a hiring manager can be just as important than the questions they ask of you? It’s true! Let’s continue to learn my top five questions. I encourage my students to ask the interviewer during an IT interview.
These are some questions to get you started.
Here’s my first question: Can you tell us how your company dealt with COVID internally or externally?
This question will give you an insight into their management of the pandemic. It also allows you to see how they manage IT internally. The way a company handles a crisis is very telling. It helps them better understand how they deal both with positives as well as negatives.
Second question: What are the other skills that go beyond the job description? What other qualities make someone successful in this job or in this company?
This will give you an idea of what they are looking for and allows us to respond with the skills and experiences we have acquired.
Third question: What do your favorite things about working here?
It’s a softball question, but it should be asked to everyone you interview. Even if there are five people working at the same company. What someone enjoys is not the same as the next. This can give you a good idea of company culture.
The Fourth Question: I want to continue to improve my skills in this field. What does your company do to support professional development?
Although it assumes they support professional development, it’s still a clever way for them to see that you are committed to your professional growth. You can also suggest ways that you would like them to offer this, such as taking time off for certifications or paying for them to do them.
The last question I love to ask is: What qualities would your ideal candidate exhibit within the first three month to let you know they were the best hire?
This question is so much fun because I enjoy writing powerful thank-you letters based on the answers. This shows them that I was listening to what they had to say and that I am able to retain the information. This gives you an opportunity to speak with the hiring manager again, so they can see you.
NexGenT is the place to go if you want more information and help. We can help you build your IT career and work with you to create a customized strategy for your success. This includes soft skills development, resume and cover letters assistance, and interview help. Visit our Zero to Engineer page to see our student testimonials.
