Five Key Questions which Concern most Employers

by Ruaidhri Horan, Marketing Manager, Abrivia Recruitment

In an interview situation, it is difficult to ascertain what are the key questions which concern employers. In my opinion the five key questions which concern most employers are as follows:

1) What is your motivation for being here?
2) What can you do for me personally and for my organisation?
3) Will your personality fit in with the rest of the organisation?
4) Do you stand out from other candidates/ what makes you different?
5) What are your salary expectations? Is it within the budget?

1) What is your motivation for being here?
This can also be phrased why are you here? or what brings you here? This vague question is difficult to answer for job candidates, but an excellent one from an employer’s perspective, to determine your true drive and motivation. Your answer should focus on why you are impressed by your potential employer’s company, how the job requirements are closely matched to your skills, knowledge and experience and how the advertised role fits into your overall career map. This open ended question is a great opportunity for you to shine and impress your potential employer.

2)What can you do for me personally and my organisation?
An interviewer will not ask you directly “how can you make my life easier?” but have no doubt that this question will be running through their head. However, they may pose the question “What can you bring to this organisation? To answer this question effectively focus on your motivation, enthusiasm, drive, communication skills, organisational skills, problem solving ability, leadership abilities and how easily you fit into a team and get on with your colleagues.

3) Will you fit in with the rest of the organisation?
Focus on your personal values to answer this question effectively and hopefully your own personal values will be aligned with the culture of the organisation. Alternatively, ask your recruiter about the organisational culture, research employee reviews on Glassdoor and Irish Jobs and decide whether your personal values fit in with this culture before you apply for the advertised position. Be truthful about your values as to get the job, as to get a job based on mistruths, will be a recipe for disaster, as a cultural mismatch can be a very frustrating environment to work in, not only for yourself but also for your new colleagues.

4) What makes you different?
Interviewers are always looking at points of differentiation to make their decision easier. Focus on your background and success stories from your past career. Your stories of successful outcomes are unique to yourself and will make you more memorable in the eyes of a potential employer.

5) What are your salary expectations?
You are after doing a very good interview and this question crops up, which is a potential banana skin as you may be perceived as too expensive/ too cheap in the interviewers mind. The best tack to take is to use “salary ranges” in your answer. For example, you could say that you have researched the salary range in the industry for the position you are interviewing for, then state the salary range and confirm that you would be happy with a salary within this range. The ball is then back in your interviewers court.

It is important to know the key questions which concern most employers as you can frame your answer to address these concerns. By addressing employer fears you are greatly enhancing your chances of landing your dream job.