5 New Interview Questions You Need to be Prepared For

It’s no secret that these past few months have thrown a major curveball at the recruitment process as we know it. Business owners knee deep in crisis management have been trigger-shy to recruit again, and even the most experienced candidates have been left treading water in an over-saturated market.

Fortunately – the tables are turning. As real estate businesses adjust to a new kind of grind, their recruitment process too will be forced to change. Not just in the fundamental way interviews are conducted (be it via video conference or face to face), but in how they are qualifying new talent.

Your potential employer will want to nut out what you can do for them to ride out the aftershock of this pandemic. Showing how you overcame challenges and adapted in an era of universal disruption is what will separate you from the pack in a behavioural-style interview.

Take a look at our guide to answering 5 ‘new normal’ interview questions to ace a job interview in the current market.

1. What was/is your reason for leaving your most recent role?

Nailing this off-the-bat interview question has never been more crucial. If you’ve been made redundant from your most recent employer due to the economic impacts of Covid-19, be sure to make this clear with the Hiring Manager from the get go.

Similarly, if you’ve been stood down or taken a salary cut from your current employer, be upfront with your interviewer about your situation and clarify exactly why you are looking to move on. This will establish a relationship of openness and honesty with your potential new employer and quash any red flags that may arise when addressing resume gaps or conducting reference checks.

2. How did you adapt to working remotely and stay motivated while at home?

This double-barrelled question will tell your interviewer two things about you – how you perform working autonomously and how you adapt to change. Start by walking through your daily routine while working from home – how you segmented your workload, how you kept track of your output and how you stayed connected with your team by checking in and reporting back regularly.

Employers will want to see that you are comfortable using technology such as video conferencing tools and that you have a practical home office setup in place void of distractions. Give examples of how you remained self-motivated and disciplined while working remotely, be it by setting yourself weekly goals, tracking your progress on key projects or adapting your communication style to keep on the ball while out of the office.

3. What does your ideal work environment look like in your next role? Do you prefer to work in the office, or at home? 

This a question you can expect at every interview, so it’s important to prepare a well-thought-out response. Be honest with your potential employer about what flexibility you are looking for in a post-Covid workplace. This could be the ability to work between the office or at home, staggered start and finish times, less in-person meetings or greater work-life balance.

Traditional business owners who are now adapting to at-home onboarding and managing a remote workforce will want to know what works best for their new employees from day dot to preserve both their productivity and staff retention rates. This is your chance to voice how you want to work and where you want to work and set boundaries from the outset.

4. How have you spent your extra time at home? What have your learnt about yourself throughout the pandemic?

Though conversational in tone, this question will zero in on your emotional intelligence and your drive. The Hiring Manager wants to see that you can adapt to change and remain level-headed in a stressful situation – even if that situation is a global pandemic. Showing evidence of how you remained resilient and motivated during isolation will tell your potential employer a lot about what value you can add to the role and their business.

If you have been stood down or had your work hours reduced, talk about how you have used the extra time at home to upskill yourself, or undertaken further training by participating in an online course. Detail how you have been proactive by attending a virtual networking event or listening to podcasts and reading up on market trends to stay in-tune with the industry and keep your skills sharp.

5. Do you have any questions for me?

This is your chance to turn the tables and ask your interviewer directly how Covid-19 has affected their business. Address any concerns you may have surrounding financial stability or job security and what their roadmap out of this pandemic looks like for staff retention, projected results and business growth.

Discuss what precautions have been adopted in the office space to adhere to mandatory physical distancing and hygiene requirements. Ask your potential new employer for their viewpoints on flexibility and workplace wellbeing and be candid about what is most important to you in your next role to make sure you’re both on the same page.

You’re in This Together

The recruitment process is changing, and so too is the fabric of every real estate business. In uncertain times, employers are not only looking to hire people who can sustain their business – but help it grow. The ideas and opinions that you bring to the table in your interview have the potential to shape your future role and workplace on the other side of this pandemic.

And now more than ever – business owners will be all ears.

Image Credit: Stanford Engineering