I’ve conducted over 20 interviews during my time as a technical writer in the tech industry. Some of these interviews were for full-time writer positions, and some of them were for internships geared towards undergrad and graduate students.
Most candidates completely miss an easy way to get “interview points” and overlook it as an add-on. It’s the final section where you get to ask questions.
This section is a part of your interview, evaluated by the interviewer, as much as it is for you to use the opportunity to learn about the position, team, and company.
If you don’t ask questions, this is what I take away:
- You’re not very interested or haven’t thought through what it takes to be in the role.
- You don’t take advantage of all opportunities and resources presented to you.
- You lack curiosity or initiative in getting to know an environment that will be a major part of your waking life for months if not years.
Someone who’s considering you for a position wants to know that you’re interested in the line of work and will contribute as a positive team player. If you only focus on demonstrating technical competency, you could still fail the interview. Imagine yourself competing against other candidates who also have the technical abilities but with deep enthusiasm for the work and the team. Someone who sees the position as an integral part of their career journey, not just a section to collect for the resume.
This is especially true when the interviewer is someone who will be managing you. I’m not going to want to waste my time mentoring you and help you grow in your career if it’s not something that will be valuable for you.
In many cases, sincere interest isn’t just a tie breaker. It’s an easy way to vet a pool of similarly qualified candidates. What ends up being the tie breaker might be the nuances of someone’s level of experience or resourcefulness.
So when preparing for your next interview, take a couple of minutes to imagine yourself in the role. What would you want to know? What challenges do you see arising? What are some things you’d want to have in the experience? Ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate sincere engagement and interest, and this will leave a positive impression for you in that role.