Are you asking questions at the end of your job interview?
When preparing for a job interview, it goes without saying that you should have answers prepared to showcase your competencies and specific skills that make you a great fit for the desired role. One aspect of interview preparation however that can get overlooked is the preparation of questions at the end of an interview.
In the current market, the number of banks offering contract roles is significantly increasing with numerous UK-based Financial Services companies exploring the opportunity to relocate to Ireland post-Brexit. It has never been so crucial to stand out from the crowd given that competition is rife in the jobs market.
You may be thinking to yourself before an interview, “I meet every requirement on the job spec”, “I have 5 years’ experience in Corporate & Commercial Banking”, “this is going to be plain sailing”…wrong.
In our experience, we have seen job seekers who are perfect on paper but have been ‘pipped at the post’ by a candidate with less experience who delivered a more strategic, ambitious, enthusiastic and engaging interview.
You can secure a job in the last 5 minutes of an interview even if you have had a few hiccups along the way.
So how do you stand out and deliver a positive and powerful job interview?
We recommend asking well-prepared and thought-out questions at the end of an interview that showcases your interest in the role as well as your enthusiasm towards the company and why you are the perfect hire.
The best questions to build a rapport with the interviewer are focused and open-ended so try to avoid yes or no questions.
Always ask 2-3 questions at the end of a job interview. The following examples are a good starting point for any interview and will help you leave an impression on your interviewer;
Given that this is a contract role/new team/new operation, how can I impress you in the first 3 months?
What challenges could I face in the first 3 months?
How has someone in this role previously progressed within the company?
What do you like the most about working in this company?
Does the company have any further expansion plans over the coming years?
Given the current market, what are the biggest opportunities/challenges facing your company at the moment?
When can I expect to hear from you and what is the next step in the process?
When the interview is coming to an end and after you have asked your questions, it is always beneficial for you to briefly reiterate why you are the perfect hire. One or two sentences are fine – see the short example below.
“Thank you very much for your time. I believe that my personality, skills and experience in …………….. will be a great match for what you are looking for. This is a role and company that I am very excited about and I look forward to hearing from you.”
This simple exit strategy accompanied by strategic, enthusiastic and open-ended questions will cement a positive impression with the interviewer and help you stand out from the crowd.
If you would like any advice on the financial services jobs market in Dublin feel free to reach out to the team at Executive Connections. Call us on 01-6618740 or view our current live roles page.
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