From what recruiters look for on resumes to the biggest mistakes they see candidates make, we love tracking down advice for job seekers looking to land the position of their dreams in Chicago tech.
By now, you probably know it’s best to come prepared with a set of questions to ask at the end of the interview that both reiterate your interest in the opportunity and illuminate any lingering concerns you have about the position. But recruiters sit in interviews all day and are bound to have heard the same contrived and canned questions you might have prepared.
To make your interview really stand out, we caught up with some of the city’s top-tier tech companies to learn the best responses they’ve ever heard to the inevitable closing line: “Do you have any questions for us?” Here’s what they had to say:
“Instead of getting paid a salary to work at Rocketmiles, is it possible to get paid in miles or points so that I can continue to travel around the globe while working here?”
Be creative. When a recruiter opens the floor to your questions, you’ve got an amazing opportunity to really wow them — and maybe earn back some points you may have lost earlier in the conversation. Opting for a creative, well-engineered question like this one is a good way to show off your ability to think outside the box.
"We understand that a salary is important, but as our business shows, we know how important miles and points are to folks as well," said Josh Lewis, head of people at Rocketmiles. "Of course we'd pay this candidate a salary, but we loved this question because it showed us that the candidate was not only passionate about our industry and traveling (a must!), but he also did his homework to see what we were all about and what our mission is. While surprised by the question, we loved being surprised by the enthusiastic talent that we find with Built In Chicago."
“I see you’re a collaborative group. But what really motivates TurboAppeal as a team to get things done?”
Be sincere. Think about what you value as a person and employee, and do your research about what core values a company has (pro tip: they’re often listed somewhere on their careers page). You can use your post-interview questions to see if those values align — which is critical for your success and happiness on any job.
“My interview style is conversational, so the questions I love getting asked are ones that keep the conversation going,” said Linda Corman, TurboAppeal’s human resources director. “This might not seem like an earth-shattering question, but it stuck out to me because I could hear one of their values: they like to get things done and wanted know what makes us tick. It started a great conversation about how we show TurboAppeal’s values, and how we typically solve challenges we might face. I got a better sense of that candidate, and they got a better sense of what we’re about.”
“Star Wars, or Star Trek?”
Be you. Interviews can be stuffy and nerve-wracking, so if you get to the end and feel like the interviewer hasn’t gotten a real view of what you’re like as a person — now’s your chance to show off some of your personality.
“So this past winter, a candidate interviewing with our VP ended their meeting with an extended hand and a quick ‘Star Wars or Star Trek’ question,” said Dan Vulinovic, Peapod’s senior recruiter. “Our VP, of course, chuckled, and gave his response. He liked this exchange because the candidate was somber during the course of their conversation and this gave him some insight into the candidate's more relaxed persona.”
Images via participating companies.
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