Interviewing as a candidate is a skill within itself. One that isn't exercised every day, and on average, most people probably only attend an interview once every couple of years!

It's a cliche, but those meetings are a two-way street. So outside of making a good impression on your new potential employer, how do you leverage that opportunity to ensure that you are setting yourself up for success by considering this role, company, team, and line manager?

It's all in the questioning! That part of the interview, typically towards the end of the interaction, where the tables have turned and it's your time to pick the brains of the interviewer. 

A few tips I always advise the candidates I am working with to follow: 

 Prepare a list of relevant questions and take them to the interview. These can be pretty standard - team size, company culture, progression, and development opportunities, but outside of this, what information is going to be really valuable for you to understand exactly what you are going into?

 It's the challenges you will face! Every company has its obstacles, and every employer will create a role in a business to overcome those hurdles. 

Firstly, always be prepared to ask "What are the key challenges I should expect to face in this position" 
This will clarify the purpose of the position and help to paint a picture of how you can add value. Maybe you have conquered similar challenges in a previous role and can apply that knowledge to your next move. But also, are you ready to hit those challenges head-on? Do you want to put yourself in an environment where these specific barriers are there to overcome? 

Secondly, ask "what does a successful first 3 months look like in this role".
This gives you an understanding of exactly what this employer's expectations are. A window into specifically what you need to do to set yourself up for a great introduction in this company. But it will also help you to understand if this organisation has realistic expectations. Do you need to hit the ground running on the first day or achieve specific targets within a certain period of time? Do these metrics suit your motivations and career goals?

And finally, your last question before you wrap the meeting up: "From the discussion we have had today, do you have any reservations or concerns in my ability to do this job or fit into the team successfully?"
It's bold. 

It makes you vulnerable to their true opinion. 

But it gives you the opportunity to expand on any answers that may have missed the mark or been lacking in detail, you could alleviate their concerns by providing further examples of your experience or personality. As a bonus, it could also give you an indication as to how you performed and their final decision!

Natalie Whalely
Consultant
Project Delivery
(08) 6146 4472
natalie.whaley@versegroup.com.au