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The questions you ask during interview play a key role in the impression you make on a prospective employer – choose wisely...Even at the most innovative companies, interviews can follow a predictable pattern. When the interviewer is comfortable that they’ve completed their assessment of you, a familiar question rolls around:“Do you have any questions for us?”What you choose to ask can have a greater impact than you might suspect.If you produce the same questions as everyone else (“What do you like most about your job?”, “What does your ideal candidate look like?”), you might learn some valuable information, but you can’t expect to be stand out for your innovation or make yourself memorable to the interviewer.If you ask something more thought-provoking, however, you can not only set yourself apart from the competition but take the conversation into unexplored territory which the interviewer has not talked about with other applicants.Your conversation becomes memorable, and you have a chance to score points not available to other candidates by discussing things they don’t discuss.Having a selection of insightful, business-focused questions ready can help you distinguish yourself from the crowd and create a unique exchange with the interviewer.Here are 6 examples and why they work:1. What short-term opportunities do you see for the team to improve results?Asking this shows that you’re focused on coming into the role to make an impact.You move away from typical interview generalities (candidate experience, desired skills etc.) to focus on tangible results and what actions can be taken to deliver better outcomes. At the end of the day, this is what the interviewer needs most on their team – no amount of experience or ability matters unless it’s applied to make a difference.Making the question about team rather than the individual role can also reassure the interviewer that you understand your function as being part of a wider collaborative effort.2. What’s the best investment the team has made?This question demonstrates an appreciation of budget and resources, understanding that team results are shaped by the resources at their disposition.Linking work outcomes to the investment and platform provided by the company reveals an ability to think about team performance from a more strategic angle, showing the interviewer that you have the capacity to think beyond the immediate confines of your personal role.It also gives the interviewer an opportunity to talk about positive aspects of the team you’ll be joining - if they are the hiring manager then they may well have been responsible for the investment they choose as their answer.3. How do you see the team in 3 years’ time?Asking questions with a time horizon creates confidence that you are thinking about your position in the long term, and expect to be part of that team after 3 years.The question implies a level of ambition, probing on opportunities that may be created as the team expands.It also invites the interviewer to talk about their own growth goals, and to share the plans they have for developing the group. You then have the opportunity to ensure that your interview performance and responses synch with these objectives.4. Are there trends you’re worried you’re not keeping pace with?This shows that you view your role in a commercial context, and don’t expect anything outside your job description to be someone else’s problem.Rather than be a passive member of the team, you are aware of threats and challenges in business and assume shared responsibility for overcoming these together with your manager and colleagues.Raising the issue of trends also takes the conversation into a wider reflection on industry news and developments, where you can have a chance to showcase your expertise and share your opinions of where things are headed.5. What will be the next big investment the team will make?Probing around future change to the team illustrates a potential to think big as well as small.In addition to joining the team to excel in your assigned function, you’re also interested in the roadmap for the team’s evolution.Are there any big changes coming up?What tools, infrastructure or additional talent would help the team’s performance move to the next level?You demonstrate a collaborative mindset, focus on team success and excitement for the future.6. What are you most proud of about the team?By inviting the interviewer to talk about what they’re proud of, you switch the conversation onto their own career and contribution, which inevitably generates a positive vibe in the discussion.Putting them and what they’re proud of in the spotlight helps show that you’re aware of your manager’s own career, and creates an opportunity for you to make clear that you will be an asset to their personal development and ambitions – joining the team to give, to support and not simply to follow instructions.***Ready to explore new digital marketing career opportunities?Adaptive Digital recruits across Europe and the USA for digital marketing and ecommerce professionals, filling roles with brands & agencies in more than 20 countries. To view Adaptive Digital’s full range of open jobs, click here.

Preparing for a career move in sales?Here are five key steps to succeeding at interview.Sales professionals have a delicate balancing-act to perform at interview time.Often employers are hoping to see a range of skills and personality traits, several of which overlap and a few of which seem to flatly contradict.You need to be determined, focused and competitive when it comes to winning new business, but easy-going and collaborative as a colleague and member of the team.Employers want to see that you’re driven by financial incentive, but not just chasing dollars without a commitment to the company’s broader mission.Striking the right tone is no easy task.To help you showcase your experience in the best light, we’ve chosen our top five pieces of advice based on hundreds of sales interviews.Understand the needTo excel in interview it’s vital to know exactly what the company is looking for – and that’s sometimes not as obvious as it sounds.Interviewers are, of course, always vetting for someone who can fundamentally be trusted to hit a sales goal, but there are lots of nuances and details beyond that which could be important clues as to how you should present or discuss your experience.Do they need someone who can upsell and expand existing accounts, or simply kick in new doors?Are they on the lookout for someone with management potential, or is it a solo role?Have there been issues with previous hires which have shaped the focus of this search?Often interviewees can be so eager to share their accomplishments that – although impressive – they may be missing the mark and talking about issues that don’t resonate with the company’s more important needs.Early on in the interview, try and establish what the hiring company is really trying to find.Not only will this help you understand if the role is truly a match for you, but it will enable you to shape the way you present your achievements and background.2. Show that you can evolveIn a fast-moving and competitive global market, companies are always changing – exploring new customer sectors, reacting to pricing pressure, implementing new technologies, hiring new personnel and adopting new marketing strategies.A recurrent concern among hiring managers is whether sales candidates will be able to adapt and succeed throughout the inevitable change ahead.Sales candidates who set out to demonstrate to an interviewer that they have a ‘tried and tested’ approach to sales risk inadvertently signalling to that interviewer that they are uncomfortable with change or may struggle in a new environment.While a company needs to know that you have a formula for success, it’s important to make clear that you’re able to adjust to evolving circumstances and have done so successfully in the past.It’s great to be focused, but avoid coming across as rigid.3. Focus on growthAbove all else, make sure that what shines through from your interview is your ability and drive to create top-line growth.“If we hire this person, are we going to see increased clients and client spend?”With so many other variables in play, it can be easy to get taken off track into a discussion about marketing, management, training or other areas of conversation – and while it’s fine to show a broad perspective and hold opinions on these topics, it mustn’t come at the cost of convincing the interviewer that the net effect of your hire will be customer growth.As a guiding principle, there are few better ways to formulate your answers to interview questions or to choose your own anecdotes to illustrate your experience.The interviewer may decide you’re smart, thoughtful, well informed or a thousand other things – but if they don’t decide you’ll create new revenue, it’s all been for nothing.  4. Give examples of being a team playerThe medical device industry’s most successful salespeople go beyond the basics of a standard sales role – they are company ambassadors, with great relationships across the organization they represent and the ability to engineer ‘win-win’ scenarios for their agencies and their clients.Hiring managers want someone who is an asset to the business, and not just someone who can bring in their numbers (especially if that means disrupting morale, causing internal rifts or draining time from management).Showing your ability to collaborate with marketing colleagues, production teams and other areas of the organization goes a long way to helping set interviewers’ minds at ease. 5. Analyze what YOU do wellStepping into the interviewer’s shoes, one of the most important things they’re trying to figure out is how much of your performance in previous positions was down to the environment, team or market you worked within, and how much was down to your contribution and skill set.This is critical – an employer isn’t buying your past, they’re hiring you for your future contribution.You can swing the interview in your favour by actively helping the interviewer to make this distinction.Go back over your previous roles and identify all areas where your impact influenced events, and analyze what you did well to achieve positive outcomes and hit goals.Have you been successful mostly because of high activity volumes?Determination?Deep subject-matter understanding of client markets?Rapport and relationship-building?Willingness to go the extra mile, take calls late at night or schedule meetings on weekends?This helps you understand exactly what you’re bringing to the table.Working out your personal strong suits and ensuring they are clearly communicated during your interview lets a prospective employer cut through the distractions in your CV and understand the core abilities you offer, regardless of environment.***For more information on any of the areas above please contact our team at Adaptive Life Science.