Interviews,
2 min read.
The five questions worth asking at the end of every interview
Do you have any questions for us? is not a formality. It is the only part of the call you get to steer.
Astrid Halvorsen
Editor, Nordic listings
Every interview ends the same way. The person across the table leans back and asks if you have any questions. Most people ask about the next steps and say thank you. That is a waste of the best five minutes of the call.
These are the questions we hear from people who get the offers they want, and who are still happy in the job a year later.
1. What does a good first three months look like?
It tells you whether the team knows what they hired you for. A clear answer with real work in it is a good sign. A vague one about getting to know people usually means the role is still being figured out.
2. Who did this work before me, and where are they now?
If they were promoted, great. If they left, ask why, kindly. If nobody did it before, you are building the role yourself, which can be exciting or exhausting depending on the support you get.
3. How do you decide who gets promoted?
Teams that have an answer have usually written it down. Teams that do not will tell you it depends. Both are honest, but only one helps you plan.
4. What is the hardest part of this job?
Everyone has one. A team that names it openly is a team that will tell you the truth later too.
5. When will I hear back, either way?
Every listing on Carriera says how fast the team replies, from three days to two weeks. Asking again in the room makes it a promise between two people, not a line on a page.
One more thing
Write your questions down before the call and keep them in front of you. Nobody minds. It shows you came to decide, not just to be chosen.
