Interview Questions

During job interviews, many candidates ask themselves one question above all others: “How do I come across?” However, it is worth asking another question: “What do I really want to know—and how can I phrase it intelligently?”

Because a job interview is not an exam. It is a dialogue.

And those who ask questions themselves not only show interest, but often also self-reflection, attitude, and goal orientation.

Your questions say a lot about you

Not every question needs to be perfectly phrased. But every good question has one thing in common: it reveals what is important to you.

That's why it's worth not asking questions in isolation, but linking them to a brief reference to your own perspective.

This makes your questions stronger—and the exchange more valuable.

Here are a few examples:

• “A successful start is important to me. How does your induction process work?”
  They show that they think ahead, want to take action quickly, and are looking for guidance.
• “I enjoy working with other departments. What interfaces characterize the work in this position?”
  You demonstrate that you think in a process-oriented manner and want to work within the system—not in isolation.
• “I value clear goals. How would you know after a year that I had been successful?” You demonstrate that you take responsibility and are willing to perform.
• “I consider whether a job is right for me in the long term. What do you personally appreciate about working at your company?”
  They show that they are not arbitrary, but rather searching for the right environment.

Making your own motivation visible

Asking this question not only shows interest, but also self-awareness and ambition.

This has a much greater impact than standardized questions such as “How big is the team?” or “Is there a home office?” (which are, of course, still legitimate).

Our recommendation: Use your questions to demonstrate your motivation.

• What would you like to contribute?
• What do you need to work well?
• What are you looking for—besides an employment contract?

If you incorporate this into your questions, you will have conversations on equal terms—and genuine decision-making aids for both sides.

What we experience as a personnel consultancy

At Kontrast Personalberatung GmbH, we conduct hundreds of job interviews every year—and prepare candidates specifically for them.

In doing so, we repeatedly experience:

The most convincing interviews are not smooth—they are honest, engaging, and intelligently questioning. It's not about shining. It's about finding out whether you and the position are really a good fit. Your questions help with this—if they are well thought out, personal, and authentic.

Are you looking for a career change?

As an experienced recruitment consultancy, we support you in your career reorientation. We place candidates in positions that match their qualifications and attitude—in permanent positions with clear prospects. Feel free to contact us or register with our candidate pool.