You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for interview questions to ask recruiters.
I’m going to provide the nine best questions to ask the recruiter in a first chat after working as one for more than six years.
I’ll also offer you my best advice on how to bring up the subject of pay.
These inquiries will not only help you make a fantastic first impression, but they will also inform you critically about the opportunity you’re discussing and help you determine the recruiter’s reliability.
Questions to Ask Recruiter:
1. How long has the position been open?
Because it will give you an idea of how the search has been going, how many people are in the company’s pipeline, etc., this is a wonderful question to ask recruiters.
An open position for a year is a red flag that the hiring manager is either exceedingly choosy or nobody wants the post.
In either case, this is usually a warning sign. It can also imply that the recruiting manager is constantly modifying the standards because they aren’t exactly clear on what they are searching for.
Even if you interview immediately away, you should anticipate a delay in the recruiting process if a post has just been up for one week. Before making an offer, hiring managers typically want to meet face-to-face with two or three candidates.
2. Is this position a backfill or newly created?
This is one of the best queries to ask a recruiter because it’s useful to know whether a position was held by someone else in the past or whether it was newly formed within the company.
There isn’t a right or incorrect response to hear here, but having this kind of knowledge aids in understanding the big picture.
If this is a backfill, you might inquire further about the fate of the previous employee. They can have received a promotion, quit their job, joined a different group, etc.
3. What can you tell me about the hiring manager?
Not only will you interview with them, but you may also report to them directly (it’s a good idea to specifically inquire as to whether the hiring manager is also the person to whom you’ll be reporting).
Therefore, information on the recruiting manager’s technical background and employment history within the organization is useful. When interacting with the hiring manager later in the interview process, this knowledge will be useful.
4. What are the three or four most important skills?
You should utilize this information to determine whether or not the job is a suitable fit for you.
If you determine it would be a good fit, use the details given to tailor your resume before sending it (if you haven’t already).
Before your interview, you should use this knowledge to prepare some talking points or queries.
5. What are some reasons that other candidates haven’t been selected?
The recruiting manager might not provide this information later in the process, therefore this is a crucial question to ask recruiters.
This can reveal some possible errors made by applicants, whether they occurred in an interview or on a CV.
The purpose of the following five inquiries is to determine how competent they are at their task and whether you should trust and collaborate with them.
When engaging with an “agency recruiter“—a recruiter who helps numerous employers fill positions but is not employed by the organization you’re applying to—these questions are especially crucial.
6. How long have you been recruiting in this industry?
If they are a recruiter, pay attention to see if they have a lot of experience in this field. Or are they brand new and still learning? (and therefore less knowledgeable and less likely to get you hired.)
7. What is your relationship with the hiring manager?
The most effective recruiters will be in constant contact with the recruiting manager. They communicate regularly and collaborate closely during the hiring process.
There are good recruiters who work more closely with the human resources department of a company; this isn’t always necessary.
It largely depends on the kind and amount of work you’re looking for, but it’s still important to ask and find out.
8. How often do you communicate with this hiring manager?
This is identical to the previous question. By asking recruiters this question, you will learn even more about how closely they work with this organization, and therefore how much they can influence the process and help you get the job!
Listen for cues about how frequently and how they communicate.
Is the hiring manager, for example, on instant messenger? Or do they only communicate over email once a month and barely know each other?
9. What is your company’s relationship with the hiring company and how long has your firm worked with them?
This will inform you whether or not the hiring organization believes this recruiter and is likely to hire from them.
All of these are questions you should ask a recruiter from a staffing or recruiting agency.
You’ll gain a lot of important information, and you’ll get a sense of their personality and confidence based on how they respond.
Finally, trust your instincts and work with a few good recruiters who appear to enjoy their business and are knowledgeable about it.
10. How soon is the hiring manager hoping to fill the position?
This is another wonderful topic to ask HR or recruiters on your initial call because it will show how urgently the recruiting manager is wanting to fill the position and, as a result, how fast or delayed the hiring process will be as you move forward.
While the recruiter will usually tell you that they want to fill the position as soon as possible or as soon as they discover the perfect person, they may also tell you other useful information.
As a result, it’s important asking this question of any recruiter or HR representative you meet during the first meeting.
How to Ask a Recruiter about Salary
You don’t want to appear to be exclusively interested in salary in the first talk, but you also don’t want to waste your time if the employer would pay less.
So I’d suggest asking, “Do you have a rough wage range in mind for the position?”
This is a fairly informal, non-threatening manner to inquire. It sounds better than asking, “How much does the job pay?”
I would never ask that in a first conversation.
Another viable method is to provide them with information regarding your most recent pay and see their reaction.
“My most recent base wage was $X, and I’m hoping for an increase in my next employment,” for example. Does that fall within the parameters established for this role?”
They might reply “yes,” which is fantastic… or they may say “no” and save you time.
They may also answer “no,” but note that there is a more senior-level post available that may pay more.
Overall, the decision is yours; you are not required to disclose your pay, and many people believe this is private information. However, it is only one option accessible to you to assist you in rapidly determining whether this job is worth pursuing.
Always be Ready to Talk to a Recruiter
Even if you never seek out the assistance of a recruiter, you may find yourself talking with them if they approach you, which is where knowing the best questions to ask recruiters can come in helpful.
If you ask recruiters these 9 questions, you will appear well-prepared, you will acquire information that you can use to deliver outstanding interview answers while speaking with the hiring manager, and you will ensure that the recruiter is someone you want to work with!
