Job searching isn’t fun.
In today’s job-seeking landscape, it can be downright challenging at times, especially if you’re a new grad.
I graduated from NP school in May 2019 and passed my certification in June 2019. Our professors told us to start looking for jobs at the beginning of the final semester. One of our first assignments for the last semester was to complete a curriculum vitae (CV).
After the CV was graded and approved, I started in February 2019 applying for jobs. I was finally offered a position in October 2019 with a start date of January 2020.
Difficult? Yes. Challenging? Definitely! Fun? No way.
Read about my job search struggle in Three Lessons I’ve Learned from a Summer Full of Job Rejections
You’ve probably studied up on how to answer the interview questions that are coming your way during the interview process. And that’s great. Being prepared and having well thought-out answers is a necessary part of the process.
The interview process is your opportunity to shine!
They’ll ask you questions and you’ll have all the right answers.
But if you want the job, you have to set yourself apart.
You have to make the interviewer sit up and take notice.
So when it’s over and they ask you, “Do you have any questions for me?”
NEVER say no.
Always ask something, even if it’s only how well they like their position here.
–—>Get your FREE PDF below Best Questions to Ask an Interviewer<—
It’s important to ask something when you’re asked if you have any questions because it shows that you’re interested and you’re able to reflect on the interview process.
Start seeing the end of the interview process as your opportunity to make your mark!
Here are the top two questions to ask after an interview . . . in order:
1. The first best question to ask
After speaking with me, do you have any reservations about recommending me for this position?
This is a great question for several reasons.
Very few people have the nerve to ask it.
Asking for immediate feedback from a stranger is the ultimate uncomfortable social situation.
Believe me, I know.
The first time I asked it, it felt awkward and vulnerable.
But it’s great because it means you’ll stand out from crowd and, if you’re willing to hear and accept the answer, it can better prepare you for the next interview.
I had a lot of initial phone interviews from directors of HR departments who don’t really know what NPs do, so some of our talks were not job specific and I ended up in second interviews for positions that I wasn’t qualified for because that person didn’t want a new NP grad.
They wanted an experienced NP and were not interested in training someone new.
During the face-to-face interviews with actual healthcare professionals (i.e., nurse practitioners or doctors) I got straight answers to this question:
After talking with me and getting to know me, do you have any reservations about recommending me for this position?
The general answer was “We are looking for someone with NP experience.”
This wasn’t very helpful. But at least it was honest.
“Inexperience is a temporary condition,” I’d say. “I can remedy that in 6 months’ time if you’d just hire me.”
Okay I didn’t really say that, but I wanted to!!
2. The second best question to ask
What’s the next step?
This is critical because it shows that you’re interested in what happens after this point.
Do they have more candidates scheduled to interview? Are they ready to make offers?
Their answer will help you gauge their true interest.
It’s okay to take the lead and set a plan for following up.
If they’re interested, they will love that you’re taking the initiative.
If they’re not interested, your boldness has only empowered you for the next interview you face.
Part of this question is finding out whom to contact if you have questions. Remember to get a phone number or email, and find out who will be reaching out to you regarding next steps.
Here is a whole list of great questions to ask during an interview.
Be sure to click the link below to get a FREE DOWNLOAD of these questions.
Great questions to ask about the department/company
- What are the company/department values and mission?
- How will my work for you further these values?
- What is the company’s/department’s greatest challenge right now and what would my role be in overcoming it?
- Can you provide examples of the most desirable aspects of this department’s culture? How about the least desirable?
Great questions to ask about the role/job
- What does success look like in this role and how is it measured?
- What will happen in six months to show that I’ve met your expectations?
- What do the day to day responsibilities of the role look like?
- Will I be mentored? Will I be a mentor?
- When is the anticipated start date for this position?
- What’s the most important thing I can accomplish in this role in the first 60 days?
- What happened to the person who used to fill this role?
- If this is a new position, how have the responsibilities been performed in the past?
- Can you tell me about the person to whom I’ll report?
Great questions to ask the interviewer
- What’s your favorite part of your role here?
- How long have you been with the company/in this department?
- Why did you choose to work here?
- What makes you successful in your role?
- Now that we’ve discussed the position and my qualifications, do you have any reservations about recommending me for this job?
- What is the next step in the hiring process?
- Whom should I contact if I have any further questions?
- This positions sounds like something I’d really like to do—-is there a fit here?
Remember: Don’t ask about salary or benefits just yet. Wait until you are in the final steps of the interview process to negotiate with the hiring manager or an HR representative.
Need more info about job searching and interviewing? Leave a comment! I’m happy to help.
Cheers!
