Importance of Asking Questions During Interview for Fresh Graduates

As a fresh graduate who’s eager to find and secure an amazing job offer after graduating from university, one must have experienced the ups and downs of job interviews and faced different styles of interviewers according to their respective industries.

Being able to answer questions during an interview confidently and politely is expected by all interviewers, but did you know that you can ask questions too during the job interview? Sadly, asking questions before the interview ends is something that fresh graduates rarely do because they are either too afraid to ask the interviewers or they do not know that they are allowed to ask such questions.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), 1.55 million or 33.9% of graduates nationwide, have undertaken jobs below their qualifications for the year 2021. Eagerness to apply and accept a job offer without understanding the position could be one of the possible reasons behind this issue. For this reason, preparing appropriate and thoughtful questions to be asked during interviews has its importance and benefits for fresh graduates in order to secure a job equivalent to their qualifications.

1.?????Understanding the applied position

One of the benefits of asking questions during an interview is that it would help you get an idea of what to expect from the position being offered. The purpose of asking questions is to clarify the job position with greater depth when meeting the recruiting team in person, be it physically or virtually. In order to get interviewers to share with you more insight about the position, you can craft job-related questions according to the position you have applied for in the company. By asking job-related questions, it could help you to get to know the skills and knowledge the position requires which might not have been mentioned in the job advertisement. With this in mind, you could begin to prepare yourself for the position, if being offered, by equipping yourself with the necessary skills and knowledge for the position.

2.?????Whether the job fits for you

As a fresh graduate, it is natural that you want to please the interviewer because you want to secure the position. However, it is important to remember that the interviewer is not the only party trying to find the perfect candidates, but you, the applicant, are also trying to find the best job that fits you and your career goals. ?Being in the right role will allow you to have accomplishment and personal growth. A job may fit or may not fit you unless you ask specific questions. When asking questions related to the position and the workplace, you will have more ideas of what the position entails such as the nature of the work, what the tasks would be like and what everyday life in the office would look like. By asking the right questions, it will allow you to visualise yourself in the position, which can ascertain whether the position is what you have been looking for and is right for you.

3.?????Avoid getting job scammed ?

Another benefit of asking questions during an interview is the avoidance of being scammed. The word ‘scam’ here does not refer to financial fraud, but it in fact refers to a situation when applicants accepted a job offer that is different from the job advertised. ?Believe it or not, this situation happens in real life which is why enquiring more about the position during the interview is important to match the information with the job advertisement. Nevertheless, being offered a different position is not necessarily a bad thing because, most of the time, the interviewers could see a role that fits you best, which you might eventually like without knowing it yet. However, the problem occurs when fresh graduates get a job beneath their qualifications, or it is not the job they expected. Getting a job beneath your qualification could hinder you from making the right progress in your career which is why getting to know the position during the interview is crucial. ???

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4.?????Standing out

Last but not least, it is advisable for fresh graduates to ask questions during the interview because it can make you stand out among the many applicants attending the interview. It will enhance your luck in landing the position as interviewers will remember you when they are finalising candidates. The questions you ask during your interview session could also show the level of interest you have in the company and the position that can increase your chance of landing the position. Additionally, having questions to ask shows how prepared you are for the interview and that you have done the necessary research about the company, which most interviewers would appreciate the effort you took in preparing for the interview. ?It also would show that you are present in the moment and focused during the interview.

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So remember to grab the opportunity to ask questions during the interview as it will help you make the right decision and leave a lasting impression. Be sure to craft your questions to be open-ended as it will leave you the chance to get thoughtful responses from the interviewers. With all the information you have learned from the interview, you can now carefully assess the position and ask yourself whether the job and company are the ones for you.

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Unsure what to ask during an interview? Here are some questions to help you find your ideal employer:

·???????What does the career path for someone in this role look like?

·???????What do you like best about working here?

·???????What do you expect from a person who succeeds in this role in 90 days?

·???????How much travel is expected?

·????????How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?

·???????What are you looking for in a candidate?

·???????What are the biggest challenges of this job?

·???????How would you describe a typical day in this position?

·???????What is the typical work week?

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