Interview the interviewer.
Flip the script.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
Awkward pause.
You’ve just made it to the end of a job interview, and the interviewer has exhausted their questions. You’ve done your bit, they’ve done theirs. It’s time to wrap up, and for both of you to get on with life. The interviewer trots out a tried-and-true exit line.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
You know that this is pure courtesy on their part.
They know that it’s pure courtesy on their part.
You’ve got the floor, but nobody’s really expecting an answer from you.
But, what if you did?
What if you did have an answer?
What if you made something of this moment?
Turn the tables. Flip the script. Get some intel about yourself. Make the interviewer think. Make them remember you.
Ask: What did you find most striking about my resume?
Find out why they picked you.
This question makes the the interviewer pause, reflect, and articulate exactly why they picked your resume out of the hundreds that they reviewed.
Why you? Yes, why you, indeed? You want to know, and this information could make a huge difference in how you tailor your resume, and how you approach your next job interview, even if it’s with a different company.
You want to know why you were picked, and what about your resume made them pick you.
This intel tells you why you stand out.
Ask: What am I missing that a perfect candidate would have?
Find out who they are looking for.
You want to know what success means. You want to know whether they were looking for more experience, more skills, more certification, more projects, more key things. You want to know what the perfect candidate for this job looks like. You want to know because you can then measure yourself the way the interviewer was measuring you.
This intel tells you what you can do to stand out more.
Ask: If I got the role, what would you coach me towards?
Find out how far you could go, how far they think you could go.
You want to know what career opportunities exist, what your trajectory might be. You want to get them to tell you your possible 5-year plan, for roles that you might not even have considered until now, roles that you might be perfect for but that you were unaware that you were perfect for. You want to know what potential they see in you, not as soon as they hire you, but in the years after.
This intel tells you what a career path might look like.
So, when an interview wraps up, do your thing. Go ahead, thank the interviewer for the opportunity and for their time. Go ahead, ask what the next steps are in the process.
But, don’t pass up the priceless opportunity to get the intel that you crave — no, need — for your career.
- Find out what they saw in you, before they spoke to you.
- Find out what they see in you now, after they’ve spoken to you.
People want people who want the job. But, what people really want are people who like to learn from every encounter, who like to grow, who are fearless in seeking the truth, even when they’re seeking a job.
