How to Interview Your Interviewer

It may not feel like it in the moment, but an interview is a two-way street. Sure, the interviewer is one of the factors standing between you and the job you want. But how can you be sure it’s the right job? The interviewer is not holding all the cards – you’ve got at least half of them. Hiring managers don’t take the time to talk to you unless they are confident you can handle the assignment and be an asset to their company. Here’s how you can interview the interviewer to obtain the information you need to make smart career decisions.

The simplest way to interview the interviewer is to pepper your questions throughout the interview rather than saving them until the end. You’re less likely to get thoughtful responses. The interviewer is ready to wrap things up and move to the next interview or task on their list. Get better answers by asking follow-up questions whenever you answer one of theirs.

Here are some of the smartest questions to ask.

Who will I report to? This can reveal a lot about the chain of command and where you fit into it. Will you be assigned to a department that makes sense considering your skill set? Will you report to more than one supervisor? That can be a recipe for a stressful workplace.

Where will I be working? If you will be working on-site, that might be all you need to know. If you will be working remotely, which is common among project managers, there are several more questions you may want answers to, such as:

  • What tools or technology will be provided for me?
  • How will I be trained to get up to speed?
  • Are there regular meetings with my colleagues and supervisor?
  • Are those meetings conducted via Skype or do we meet in person?

How long is the assignment? As a project management professional, you understand that the nature of the position you are interviewing for is contract-based, but the length of the temporary assignment can vary. It’s helpful to understand for planning purposes, how long you will be with a specific employer and whether the contract may be renewed.

If the interview is with your recruitment agency, you can also ask questions about the other employers to get an overview of the full range of opportunities that may be available to you after this assignment has ended. Ideally, you will be able to count on a single firm as an ongoing source of project management positions.

What is your management style? This is an important question when it comes to job satisfaction. Is the supervisor on your project a micromanager? Are they hands-off to the point you have no support? Ideally, you’ll be working for a results-oriented leader who will trust you to get things done once you’ve gotten through the ramp up period.

How will I be assessed in this position? If the position you’re interviewing for is 100 percent sales, then you’ll need to understand expectations for new vs. repeat business, revenue vs. margin, one-time sale vs. ongoing contract. Even though sales is a pretty straightforward field, there are subtle distinctions you need to know about.

If you’re interested in learning out more about project or other short-term assignments, reach out to Magnify Resources to find out more about current project openings.

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