👋 Here is the preview of the article I have just published on the website.
I wanted to make sure that supporters get a special notification. I still owe you some summaries of April: it will be sent together with the May edition. I also have plenty of other contet lined-up: I just need to find the time to publish and finalize it.
Thank you so much for your support. Please let me know if you have any further ideas or questions. ❤️
I am also copy-pasting questions only for your reference (you will find the latest and updated version on the website).
a. Screening Interview with the Recruiter
This is a shorter interview where the recruiter just wants to ensure you are normal and more or less fit the requirements. But it is also a good opportunity to see how the company ticks; this is also where they will ask for your salary expectations.
What do you like the most in the company?
Why should I join?
(one more from the list below)
b. Generally Cool
(if your interviewer does something special/has a special hobby, ask about it, like “How come you won the Iron Man?”, “Since when…”)
Why do you like to show up each day?
Why is this position open?
Why do you think I should join?
Why/where did my predecessor leave?
What are my development and growth options if I do my job really well?
How can I have a meaningful impact?
What would be your expectation in my first 100 days?
c. About the Company
What does the future look like for the company?
What would you change in the way your company is run?
Your mission statement states, “<mission/values statement>.” Do you maybe have any examples how does this look like in practice?
On the <Company review websites> I have seen a lot of mixed comments. Are there any particular reasons for that?
d. About Roles and Responsibilities
What is the biggest priority now?
How would my performance measured? What are the key performance indicators for this role?
How do you set the annual/quarterly goals?
What will be my biggest challenge in this role? And for the team? How will I be able to contribute?
Why would you recommend this role to your children or nephews?
e. About the Team and also Company
What was the recent success of your team? How would my role fit into that?
What is the decision-making process in the team? How do you generate and implement ideas?
What is your approach to flexible working? Can I work from <insert>?
How do you approach the testing and validation of new ideas?
How does your team work together?
Who are the main stakeholders of the team?
How is the team I will be joining seen in the organisation?
What is the average tenure of employees? How long do people stay in the team?
f. Compensation / Interview process
What are the salary review cycles? How do they work?
How is overtime treated? (but be careful here, you should not appear lazy!)
When can I expect to hear back? What are the next steps?
g. In Startups, Scale-ups
How does my role contribute to the growth plans?
What is more important at the moment: operations or growth?
What would you say is the current biggest pain point?
How do stock options/equity compensation work? What are the conditions, vesting period, and lockups?
What is your runway? Are you profitable? If not, what is the path to profitability?
Did you have any pivots? Why?
What is the product/market/expansion you are most excited about?
Have you found your product-market fit? When? How far away do you feel you are?
h. In Big Corporations
Some of these are Germany/EU specific!
Do you offer any additional pension benefits? How does it work?
What is the salary band structure? Where is this position placed?
What are my upper compensation limits in the salary band?
What are my possible career paths?
Do I need to pass an assessment center to become a team lead?
Do you have any special programs for a sabbatical?
What are your work-from-home policies?
Bonus: Additional conversation with your future boss
One good option is to ask for an additional chat with the hiring manager in case you have several questions unanswered or, after a reflection, conclude that you would like more info. This will show you really care, and you could also pack it in your thank you for the interview e-mail, for example:
Thank you so much for your time today/yesterday, mister future boss.
I really enjoyed our talk. After some reflection I would have a couple of additional questions, so I was wondering if we could schedule another 30 min chat?
Thank you again and have a great day,
Application Tiger
In sum: always come prepared.