The title seems odd to read? Not necessarily. Even as a candidate, you are entitled to throw certain questions within the interview session with the interviewer. In fact, I professionally urge you to ask back. Get yourself more in-depth about the vacant position itself, the history of it, the challenges that will face it, and so forth. You are doing that very same reconnaissance to see if the vacant position is best first for you and to also to get a glimpse of the organization itself. Moreover, viewing the meeting as an equal exchange between interested parties will boost your confidence and calm your nerves.
But do keep in mind that you ought to ask relatable questions. Do not go wandering around by asking the unrelatable ones as the interviewer may see you awkwardly and you might lose the job opportunity.
Furthermore, here are some simple tips for interviewing the interviewer:
An interview is like any other professional meeting, so use your time and the interview team’s time well. Research and learn about the company and possibly the vacant position itself (should they already published the job description publicly via Linkedin, etc.). Don’t wait to be asked for relevant materials; your well thorough and solid CV, business/technical related presentation (should it be required), etc… Be prepared and mindful of everyone’s time–including your own.
Of course you will be invited to ask questions and therefore, use it well. Ask about the history of the position for which you are interviewing. How long was your predecessor in the role? How about that person’s predecessor? If you learn that the position has had a lot of turnover, you want to learn more about that. Don’t be shy about asking direct questions. Be professional, of course, but get the facts you need to make a good decision. A job change has a huge impact on your life and even if you are unemployed, you don’t want to take a job that has a poor track record of success.
If you have questions about work-life balance, this is a good time to ask those. It is also a good opportunity to ask about the leadership at the organization in high-level terms; for example, what is it like to work for the manager and what is his or her leadership style like?
Be honest with yourself about things that don’t sit well with you, no matter how much you like other things about the company. These red flags may not be deal-breakers, but they are issues that you need to resolve as you grapple with your decision, so pay attention to them and trust your instincts.
If you find that there have been five people in the position you are applying for in the past eight years, that could be a serious red flag. If the interviewer indicates that the president or CEO of the company is difficult to work with, and the position you are interviewing for directly supports that person, you need to consider whether or not you want to invite that stress into your life.
There are toxic relationships on the professional front just as there are in the dating world. Know your value and trust your instincts.
You bring value to this meeting, and if all goes well on both sides perhaps you will reach a mutually beneficial agreement. If it’s not a fit, you will have that much more experience as an interviewee, and that is always helpful to have in your toolkit. Try not to emotionally inflate the meeting. Life is full of interviews. Do your homework, and do your best. Then be at peace; your work is done.
