21 AGCAREERS FOOD & AGRICULTURE CAREER GUIDE THE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE ASKING IN AN INTERVIEW BY CLARA TAYLOR, DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR, AGCAREERS PHOTO: iQoncept – stock.adobe.com I think we all go into an interview with a similar game plan. We spend hours preparing our answers to the questions we know are coming—the ones that show up in nearly every interview, no matter what the role or industry. We rehearse them in our heads, say them out loud in the car, and tweak them until they sound confident but not rehearsed. QUESTIONS LIKE: • Tell me about yourself. • What are your strengths and weaknesses? • Why are you qualified for this job? But did you know that even though preparing your answers is incredibly important, it actually covers only half of the interview? Think of a job interview less as a performance and more of a two-way conversation. This is a fantastic time to learn more about the role, the company, its values, the responsibilities of the job and even the culture… and to be honest, employers are expecting you to ask questions. Saying ‘no’ when asked if you have any questions can send the wrong signal and, in some cases, take you out of consideration. Not asking questions can give employers the impression that you are not interested in the company or role. Side note: Make sure you are not dominating the conversation; let the company representative take the lead, set the tone, and ask questions when appropriate. If you are unsure about the situation, just wait until the end. I sat down with the person who interviewed me years ago for the role I have now, Mary Barefoot, HR Manager at AgCareers. Mary has interviewed hundreds of candidates during her career, and she let us in on the HR perspective on asking questions during an interview. PREPARATION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE Don’t assume you can come up with strong questions on the spot. Preparation matters! You need to prep. Have a list of questions to take with you. This is where we help! SMART QUESTIONS INTERVIEWERS LOVE • What types of responsibilities will I have in this role? • What will my team look like? • Why is the company impactful? • Are there opportunities for advancement in this role? • What will my day-to-day look like? • What is an example of a project I would be working on? • I saw ___ on your website – can you tell me more? • Tailored questions about the company and its products really show that this isn’t just another interview for you; they show you’re really interested in the company! • What are the next steps in the interview process? • What additional information can I provide you? • When can I expect to hear back? • Mary told me she LOVES these types of questions because they show overall interest in the company and role. It also shows they are dedicated to the process. • Why do you enjoy working for the company? Side note: Stay attentive during the interview! Try not to ask something that has already been answered.
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