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“Should I ask ‘spicy’ questions in an interview? I worry that will squander my chances in a competitive market.”

This was a great question that came up in my interview storytelling workshop last night (last chance to RSVP for our other two workshops this week here!).

There is a range of of ‘spicy’ questions that you can ask. In this context, 🌶 means thought-provoking, unique, and nuanced questions that speak to your interests or values.

Let’s say you are applying to a company that has a lot of federal contracts.

One spicy question is “I saw that you have done a lot of work with the Department of Education. Given all the cuts that this administration is making, how has that impacted the business? Are you able to pivot to more state-level work?”

This question is great because it demonstrates that:

Another type of spicy question is “Is your company divesting in DEI?”

This question is spicy because, unfortunately, DEI has become controversial. BUT if you know that you don’t want to work somewhere that devalues DEI, then you should ask this spicy question upfront because:

Generally, I believe spicy questions at the end of an interview are a really powerful way to stand out in a competitive market. A lot of people are going to ask questions like “what does a day in the life of this hire look like?” or “what does success look like in this role?”

These aren’t fundamentally bad questions. But if you want to be memorable, don’t be afraid to ask the spicy ones too!

I’m having conversations with recruiters, hiring managers, and other talent decision-makers weekly, and want to share tidbits of what I’m learning with y’all here too! 

If you are applying for a big company (250+ employees) in particular, be prepared that they have a rigorous hiring system in place. Many times, these companies hire thousands of people a year. This means that they have built a system that works well for them, and they make it a point to communicate those expectations very clearly.

I met a recruiter today who works at a big, brand-name hospitality company mentioned that they are highly communicative with candidates. However, folks will still make mistakes like missing an interview or a deadline.

No candidate is perfect, and 💩 happens, but these are easy mistakes to avoid. Pay attention to all the communication that comes through, mark your calendar, and let them know that you are someone that knows how to meet expectations and be consistent! Those values matter a lot, particularly for an early-career professional.

Job searching is hard work. You deserve a break. Here’s how I took time to rest and recharge this week!

Maybe this is just because I’m a native Texan, and I literally grew up reading children’s books about Texas wildflowers (the Texas cult is real), but nothing restores me more than bluebonnet season. Drove out to Brenham, TX this weekend and forced my dog to pose because I am already dreading the summer heat!

📢 Chronically online and looking for an early-career online community for support and accountability?

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Thanks for showing up this week! We appreciate you. See y’all same time next week!