21 Questions You Should Ask During Your Next Job Interview
Have you ever dated someone that rarely communicated or talked when you all were together?
When this person is around their friends, they don't appear to be shy, yet when they are with you, it's always deadly quiet. When you show interest in someone, you want them to show an equal amount of interest in you. When they don't, you are left feeling unwanted and like they are not taking you as serious as you are taking them.
The same occurs between a job applicant and a company. Before you partner with a company, you have to go through the “dating" phase before you make it official (and change your whole Facebook status). In the job world, the dating phase is the interview. During the interview, the employer will give you more information on them and they will ask you questions. It is only proper and right that you return the favor and show interest in them by having questions.
Too often, I have interviewed people that may have done really well in answering my questions, but they failed in having prepared questions at the end. If an applicant doesn't have any questions for me, it is a total red flag. In my mind, it appears they either don't care enough to do research, or they're simply too lazy to do so. Either way, it can be a complete turnoff. Even more so, it is a red flag when someone asks questions that can easily be found in the job description or on the company website.
I know that sometimes it can be a struggle in finding educated questions to ask your desired employer. Trust me, I know. However, when the interviewer asks, “So, do you have any questions for me?" this is the time when the interview is in your hands. You are now given the opportunity to discuss whatever you want so that you can make the best decision in choosing your next employer (remember, you should be interviewing them as well).
So what kind of questions should you ask to stand out an interview?
I'm so happy you want to know. See below & #thankmelater.
- What does a typical day look like?
- What are the most immediate projects that someone in this position would be focused on?
- What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
- What attributes does someone need to be successful in this position?
- Do you expect the main responsibilities for this job to change in the near future?
- What are the most important things you'd like to see someone accomplish in the first 90 days on the job?
- Can you tell me about my direct reports? What are their strengths and their biggest challenges?
- What made you choose to join this company?
- What do you think is the best thing about working here?
- How long have you been with the company?
- Has your role changed since you started working at this company?
- How would you describe your managerial style?
- As a manager, what frustrates you most in regards to your employees and handling projects?
- How would you describe the company culture in 3 words?
- How would you describe the work environment here—is it more team-oriented or would it be more independent work?
- Has anyone on your staff been promoted recently? If so, what was the reason why this person was promoted?
- Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?
- Is this a new position?
- What are some things that the office does to promote team building and bonding?
- When can I expect a call back from you? & If I haven't heard from you by then, may I give you a call?
- Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?
BONUS TIPS:Always do extensive research before the interview. Prepare questions ahead of time and make sure you are not asking questions that can easily be found online. Also, always remember to follow-up after the interview.
If you are interviewing with someone who you hadn't be in contact with before, ask for their business card so you can send them a thank you note.
Featured image by Shutterstock
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Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy