{"id":737710,"date":"2024-04-23T06:37:20","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T05:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=737710"},"modified":"2024-04-23T08:38:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T07:38:53","slug":"the-coach-what-questions-should-i-ask-during-my-job-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/opinion\/the-coach-what-questions-should-i-ask-during-my-job-interview","title":{"rendered":"The Coach: What questions should I ask during my job interview?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have a couple of job interviews coming up and, looking back to the last time I did interviews, I recall being flummoxed when they asked whether I had any questions for them. Do you have any good ideas?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A job interview is a two-way street. Asking thoughtful questions that show you are interested, engaged and committed to the role could help to set you apart as a candidate. Conversely, questions that focus solely on what the practice can do for you \u2013 or asking something that has already been addressed \u2013 risk suggesting a lack of interest.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Firstly, there are questions that are useful for you but also help them:<\/p>\n

\u2018Is there anything on my CV or in my background that makes you question whether I\u2019m a good fit for the role?\u2019<\/p>\n

This is a great question to ask for several reasons. Firstly, it gives you a chance to understand and address any concerns the interviewer may have. If they give an honest response, you will have one last chance to allay those fears. It also shows how committed you are to the role and will give you an idea of the skills or traits you may need to develop in the future.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Have I answered all your questions or is there anything you\u2019d like me to elaborate on?\u2019<\/p>\n

Can you dig beneath the job description and try to understand just how messy day-to-day life might be<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You want the interviewer to go away from the conversation feeling that you\u2019re a perfect fit for the role. So before you ask the other questions you\u2019ve prepared, check whether the interviewer would like you to give more examples or provide any extra information about anything you touched on during the interview.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then there are questions that point to your ambition and commitment:<\/p>\n

\u2018What have been the career paths of the people who have held this position before?\u2019<\/p>\n

This is a great question to ask if you\u2019re ambitious and eager to progress. If previous incumbents are now in more senior roles within the practice then that\u2019s a sign that high achievers are rewarded, recognised and promoted from within the studio.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018What are some of the challenges you expect the person hired for this role to face?\u2019<\/p>\n

The job description is the practice\u2019s opportunity to sell the role and make it sound like a fantastic place to work. This is your opportunity to dig beneath all that and try to understand just how messy day-to-day life might be. Can you discern any intra-studio politics that you\u2019ll have to battle against?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Can you describe a typical day or week in the job?\u2019<\/p>\n

It could be that the tasks that excite you in the job description will only account for a small proportion of your time, and a major part of the working day consists of tasks you aren\u2019t motivated by. Some interviewers may try to keep things vague so don\u2019t be afraid to push for more detail.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overall, your questions should be about the job itself. In most circumstances, I don\u2019t advise main-staging salary or benefits until you\u2019re in the final steps of the recruitment process and in a good position to negotiate.<\/p>\n

AJ Coach Matthew Turner is an architect and careers consultant who runs the Building on Architecture consultancy. Email him in confidence at\u00a0<\/i>hello@buildingonarchitecture.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have a couple of job interviews coming up and, looking back to the last time I did interviews, I recall being flummoxed when they asked whether I had any questions for them. Do you have any good ideas?\u00a0 A job interview is a two-way street. Asking thoughtful questions that show you are interested, engaged …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81033,"featured_media":737712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[745],"tags":[1232,90219,1526],"yoast_head":"\nThe Coach: What questions should I ask during my job interview?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Asking the right questions at a job interview can set you apart as a candidate; asking the wrong ones can backfire. 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