The Most Challenged Interview Question
What is the most challenged interview question you has been ever asked in an interview? And how do you answer it? Let me know in comment below.
This is the sequel of this article: CV — The Good, The Bad, The Weird
My opinion:
The question that most (if don’t say all) applicants cannot answer well is: Do you have any question for us?
The answers I usually get is “no, I don’t” after 30 seconds of awkward silence, or sometime, concerns about benefits of the company.
Below are some better answers (or should I say questions) that will not only impress interviewer but also reveal some data points about the team and the leader, so that you can consider if it’s a good fit for you.
Before asking anything, make sure you’re talking with the person who will be your direct leader. He/she usually shows up in the interview, but if they don’t, ask for another round to have a talk with them.
The trilogy of vision questions:
1. What is your company vision? Or if you already know (because it’s listed publicly) — Can you help explain the company vision to me?
2. What is the vision of your team, how does it contribute to the organization’s vision?
3. If I join your team, how do you think I as an individual can contribute to the organization success?
With these 3 questions, you will learn what do the company stand for and how your work can impact. More importantly, it reveal if the leader is a good one or not. If the leader himself can profoundly explain the company vision and be able to link his team’s effort to it, he surely know how to motivate you to perform your best work. Otherwise, you know that you cannot count on him guiding you toward the big goal.
However, be prepare for the question #3 above, he might want challenge you by letting you answer it yourself.
Could you describe culture of your team, what are the values that you appreciate?
Creating, maintaining culture of the team is not listed in job description, while it still be a responsibility of a leader. True leader has to sleep on it. He has to think what environment that healthy for the team to grow, how to create and maintain that environment. Let find out he appreciate procedures or autonomy, professionalism or creativity, obedience or debate, process or people so on and so forth.
Will you able to thrive in that environment or not, it depends on your personal judgement, but answering that question well means he cares about the team.
What is the biggest difficulty and advantage that I would face joining the team at this point?
Usually, when a team find new members, it is either expanding or filling vacancies which is recently left by someone. Asking this question will give you an idea what problem you’re going to deal with, such as handling messy legacy of that someone, or doing the job that no one has ever done before… Also note the answer down and review it after probation period, to see if the leader was honest with you at first place.
What are the key factors that you will consider between applicants to pick one for the job offer?
Last question, you will immediately have an idea if the interview went well or not. Take this chance to review if you fulfilled his expectation. If he list some factors that you didn’t have a chance to express in the interview, ask if you can talk more about it. This is actually a practice that sale people usually apply when they really want to close the deal, basically seller (you) want to know from buyer (interviewer): what does it take, for you and me to do the business today?
New graduates and looking for mentorship in engineering are also welcome, drop me an email at trung.luong@ssv.com.vn, we always have interesting projects.
Find more career opportunities at https://careers.7-eleven.vn/
