This candidate Santosh Kumar (name changed to maintain confidentiality) was receiving interview calls however was not able to crack the interview. When I coached him I assessed that he was talented, skilled and was also preparing well for interviews however during interviews he was not asking any follow up questions as a candidate. I guided him on how to ask follow up questions and when he started asking them his success rate in interviews went up and he got his desired job.
What’s a follow up question? It is a question which you as a candidate ask when when the interviewer has asked you a general or broad question. This approach helps you identify the specific aspect of the question which helps you present your skills and expertise in that area itself and hits the nail of the head.
For example when an interviewer asks “Tell me something about yourself?”, your follow up question can be – ‘Is there any particular aspect about my background which you would like to know?”. And if the interviewer says about your professional strengths in X area, then you can respond accordingly. Or if the interview question is – “Why should we hire you?”, then your follow up question can be “As I understand these are the 2 areas which are most important for the job, is that correct?” Then accordingly talk about your strengths in that particular area.
With follow up questions the connect with the interviewer will be better, you will start building a rapport and your chances of getting shortlisted will increase dramatically.
So invest time in making a list of follow up questions to all general and common interview questions.
All the best!
Sarabjeet Sachar
Seasoned Career Coach, Founder & CEO, Aspiration