Author: Victoria Krstev
More often than not you probably find yourself on the interviewer’s side rather than the interviewee. But have you ever thought about what the candidate is thinking about your company or the position itself? Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of a candidate and see what they typically want to be answered.
Anytime their resume or cover letter is picked out from a sea of applicants, they are curious what stuck out about them. Was it their resume? Their experience? Possibly where they have previously worked? Whether a recruiter helped pick out this prospect or you’re conducting the hiring process yourself, knowing what made them stand out helps them improve and be more confident in their own skills.
As exciting as it is to start a new role, candidates are often curious about why it is open. They are curious if it is a brand new role and they will be the first to fill the position or if someone has just resigned. And if they did resign, they are interested in knowing why. Many times than not, I have taken to GlassDoor or Indeed to read company reviews, trying to uncover why people have left or why this role is open. I have also gone as far as to search the company on LinkedIn, then target this particular role and see if the person is still in the role or has left. Nothing better than doing some digging!
This leads to the next question…
Just as important as it is to find a career, it is equally important that this career choice is the right one for you. People want to make sure that they are happy in the role that they are in.
Are you wondering what they consider important? A few key points are:
This one is huge. Candidates want to know whether they are walking into an environment where employees are genuinely happy to be there and feel motivated to succeed or is this an environment where employees do the bare minimum just to get by. How management and employees around the new hire act will directly affect how they feel towards the company.
Sometimes candidates are applying to a job that they may not necessarily want for the long term, but are interested in the company and want the opportunity to move upwards. They want to be given realistic expectations of what is likely to happen in this role.
Not only do people want to grow within a company but they want to grow as a person as well. This may include going back to school or taking individual courses. Even signing up for teams and other activities. How accommodating would the company be if the candidate decided to go back to school but still wanted to keep the position?
After that initial interview, it is absolutely nerve-wracking waiting to hear back. Whether it is a yes or a no, it is nice to know where you stand and know when you will find out.
This one is a bit awkward for most candidates to ask, but it is something that needs to be addressed. If the interview process goes well and they are interested in pursuing the position, candidates will need to know what their typical work week will look like along with what their salary will be. This is something that can be discussed between a recruiter and the employer in order for the candidate to be given a general idea of what to expect.
Being a potential candidate for a job is a stressful situation to be in for any person no matter how little or much experience they have. A recruiter is a great way to ease the stress by being a middleman in between future employers and candidates. Candidates can feel less intimidated and build a connection with their recruiter who can provide inside scoop about what the position is all about and where they currently stand.
