By Torski Dobson-Arnold
Dear Career Confidence Coach,
I had a really good first interview for a job. The manager then decided to do a reference check and based on that, I have been invited in to meet the team.
Are there any examples of questions I could ask that would further impress them? I think this is a great opportunity and I want to seal the deal. I look forward to your response.
Thanks for your time,
Almost Got the Job
Congratulations on dazzling the manager in the interview! Sounds like management was really impressed with what you had to offer the team. You’re almost there and I don’t see you striking out now. Let me review some pointers for the final curtain call.
Now that you are scheduled to meet with the team, note: This part of the interview is used to assess culture fit. The initial interview generally looks for a technical fit between the applicant and the company; in other words, “Can this applicant do the job? Does the applicant possess the skills, knowledge and ability to carry out the tasks to perform the job well?”
You’ve already passed this phase. During the team interview, I would focus on asking questions about the team dynamics of the organization. Some suggestions might be:
• How do you overcome challenges as a team?
• How do you measure success as a team?
• What would a new team member need to accomplish in the first 30 days to successfully assimilate into the current team dynamic?
Other questions you may want to ask from an individual basis amongst the team members are:
• What is the best thing about working for this company?
• If there was one thing you wish someone would have told you when you first began working here, what would it be?
This line of questioning should begin the process of building camaraderie and trust within the group.
Wishing you nothing but success in your career endeavors,
Torski Dobson-Arnold, Your Career Confidence Coach
