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Asking These 5 Interview Questions Will Make You Stand Out According this Global Recruiting Consultant at Aldelia Global Manpower

Gone are the days of answering recruiters' interview questions and going home thinking, “job well done”. Asking interview questions is expected these days. Global Recruiting Consultant, Shamim Nsubuga shares 5 interview questions that will make you stand out in your next interview.

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Gone are the days of answering recruiters' interview questions and going home thinking, “job well done”. Asking interview questions is expected these days. Global Recruiting Consultant, Shamim Nsubuga shares 5 interview questions that will make you stand out in your next interview.

Shamim Walusimbi Nabaggala Nsubuga is a Global Recruitment consultant with Aldelia Global Manpower and the Vice President of the Human Resource Managers Association of Uganda. The 31-year-old has grown from a Client Relations Officer at a local bank to a Global Recruitment Consultant. She has also become a significant leader for the Uganda HR Managers fraternity. That looks like a lot of interviews to go through to be picked for these roles!

She has worked for Crane Bank, NFT Consults, Q-Sourcing Servtec, and now Aldelia Global Manpower; a recruitment firm that has a reach of over 30 countries, 7,000 clients, and 50,000 candidates. She is also passionate about disability inclusion in the employment workforce and has championed that conversation on panels she’s sat on.

Shamim has a background in Human Resource Management, Talent Acquisition, and Stakeholder Management. In her current role, she develops, implements, automates, and analyzes organizational strategies, to make sure that companies get value for human capital. She was headhunted for her last two roles, a testament to her work value. And she attributes all this success to being service-oriented and putting in the hours for voluntary work to be noticed.

According to Shamim, asking interview questions as a job candidate is important because we are in an age where it is all about influencing people. It is one of the priority things you need to do to stand out as a job candidate. Recruiters may even prefer you for it. “Questions that are impactful give you an opportunity to be unique. And standing out means you need to be remembered.”  - Shamim Walusimbi Nabaggala Nsubuga.

 

Here are five interview questions Shamim recommends asking so you can stand out at your next job interview

 

1. “How would you describe the work culture at this company?”

This question and any others related to the company values shows you have the initiative to incorporate yourself into their work culture. It shows your employers that you are interested in working with them and are also checking if they are a good fit.

2. “Based on how I have presented myself, how can I positively represent your company image?”

This is a strategic question, everyone is looking to employ people of value and you are pitching yourself as one. Shamim advises you to ask this question when you are sure your interview went well. You do not want to come off as egocentric, but rather interested in feedback and also shooting your shot.

3. “What does professional development look like at your company?” or "What growth opportunities are available in your company?"

This interview question shows the employer you are interested in growing within the organization. An alternative to this question is, “How will my success be measured within the company?” It communicates to the recruiter that you are already thinking strategically about how to progress. That ambition is a good look.

4. “What keeps the CEO/top management awake at night?”

This question will have you interpreted as someone with an interest in knowing the pain points of the company. Employers want problem solvers who are invested in knowing their company’s problems and finding the solutions. Ask this interview question if you are genuinely interested in the conversation that ensues. You do not want to come off as phony because the technical jargon becomes boring or complex. A tactful way to broach this interview question is to do some research beforehand on the possible challenges companies in your industry face then use that as your question starter.

5. “When would you like me to start?”

It is old but still works like a charm to infuse humor in the room. Be mindful of how your interview went as you ask this. You do not want to ask this after what felt like a crappy interview. You can ask if one of the panelists wasn’t fully convinced, it could sway them.

 

What questions should you not ask during a job interview?

 

  • Remuneration for your salary or overtime

Shamim asserts that how much you earn will come up; your employer or the recruiter will ask you. When you initiate this conversation so early in the interview process, it may taint their impression of you to think that you are all about the money instead of creating impact.

 

  • “What does the day-to-day look like for this role?”

If what you'll be doing was stated clearly in the job description, this interview question, though recommended by some, may give the impression that you did not read your job description. Also for an experienced professional, it can seem like you do not know your role well.

Conclusion

We all have the good parts and flaws in our personalities but interviews are too short to capture who you are as a whole. Fortunately, you can showcase your best self with these insightful interview questions. After all, you have no idea who is paying attention. 

Written by

Anita Kamba

A Ugandan Civil Engineering Professional working with a Ugandan government corporation. I am also a social media content creator and writer. Most of my creative work is influenced by personal experiences and those of people around me.


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