What questions should you ask the recruiter?
During and leading up to an interview, it can feel like all of your focus is on preparing for the questions that the recruiter is going to ask you on the first call. But, it can be just as important to think about what you are going to ask the recruiter about, no one likes a one-sided conversation after all. Here are a few great questions to get some conversation going:
What are the most important skills for this role?
This helps you to see if your expectations of the role and the reality of the role align. You can also then ask further questions about why they think those skills are so important.
What are some reasons that other candidates haven’t been selected?
This can help identify mistakes that other candidates have made so that you can avoid them.
What do the compensation and benefits for the position look like?
You should get to know what the salary or rate is for the position as well as what benefits it offers before you or the hiring company put too much energy into the interview process.
What is the culture like at the company?
Understanding what a company’s values and culture is like can help you decide if this is the right fit for you. It can also help you anticipate what questions they might ask you about your personality and the type of working environment you flourish in.
How long has this position been open, and is it backfill or newly created?
If the position has been open a long time, also ask about why the position has been open so long. Knowing a little bit of history about the position can give you useful insight into the company. If the position has been open for a long time, it might tell you that the company is fairly picky about their hires, or that the hiring process is long. If the position is a backfill, it could be useful to know whether the person whose place you’ll be taking was fired or left, and why.
Importance of hands-on experience with helpdesk software
If you are just applying for your first ever customer support job, it’s possible that you might not have any experience with helpdesk software. But, helpdesk ticketing software experience is incredibly important, as it is likely where you will be spending most of your time.