Ask THIS Question in Your Next Interview

Interview Question: Is there any reason why I wouldn’t get this job? (2:40)

Follow Up Question: Because if there are any flags or concerns, I would like to talk about it now.

My Experience with Asking This Question (5:11)

What This Question Tells an Interviewer (6:45)

What Are Your Favorite Interview Questions? (7:19)

This Episode’s One Liner: Sometimes the answers we’re looking for, lie within the questions themselves. (7:35)

Review the Transcript:

Hey, everyone. In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm going to be giving you one single question that you need to ask in your next interview. This one question has helped me secure speaking engagements and other opportunities, and it's truly something. It might take a little bit of guts, but it'll be worth it in the end. So, let's get to it.

What's up, everybody? It is Jess Ekstrom, and welcome to Business on the Bright Side, the podcast where you can learn how to make a living and make a difference at the same time. Life is short, and so is my attention span, so let's get started.

We've all been on the other side of an interview, whether it's for a job or a speaking opportunity or a consulting gig, whatever it might be. And they turn to you and say, "Do you have any questions for me?" I would always get so nervous because I wanted my questions to show that I care, to show that I was doing my research, to show that I was passionate. So, I would always have these kinds of backlog of questions that I would ask. "What does success look like in this position? For people who didn't do so well, what were the things that they missed? For people who did well, what were things that they did right?" Just kind of shuffled through these generic questions. And then it wasn't until one interview where I got the chutzpah, and I got the courage to ask a question that I've never asked before.

This question is a question that I have kept with me in my back pocket if I'm ever in the running for a big opportunity, and I, without fail, ask it every time because it is just that good. And I want you guys to steal it from me. At the end of the interview, when they ask you, "Do you have any questions for me?" I want you to ask them, "Is there any reason why I wouldn't get this job? Or is there any reason why I wouldn't get this speaking opportunity." And then maybe follow it up with, "Because if there's any flags or concerns that you have, I would love to talk about them right now." That question alone, I have seen jaws drop to the floor, eyes widen, and what that question does is it shows one, that you're open to feedback and that people love when they can coach you or give you tips and shows that you're coachable.

But two, it also gives you the opportunity to put their mind at ease. In interviews themselves, they usually don't bring up any red flags. They might bring them up to their partner after you leave or write it on your resume or application, but they'll rarely tell you those red flags. Wouldn't you want the opportunity to say something, to counter, to see what their concerns are and maybe see how you can help? So, one time I asked this question for a very big speaking opportunity, and I asked them, "I know that you're interviewing a bunch of other people for this. Is there any reason why I wouldn't be it? What is going through your mind right now? Any doubts or concerns? I would love to discuss them." She looked at her partner, and then she looked back at me, and she goes, "The only concern that I have is that maybe you might be too young and that our audience might not be able to relate to someone who's in their twenties because a lot of our audience members will be in their forties or fifties."

I was so glad that I had the opportunity to talk about that and to show how I've had successful ratings and audiences that are older than me, and that I'm not using examples in my talk of me on TikTok or any young platform. And it gave me the chance to put her mind at ease and say, "Yes, I can reach the 40, 50-year-olds that are going to be in your audience, even though I'm 27 or 28" or however old I was at the time. So then the last question that she asked... I said, "Is there any other reason why I wouldn't get this job? I'd love to discuss it." She said, "Are you available on this date?" And I was, and I walked away with a handshake with a 99% confidence that I had it and got the call the next day.

That one question of asking if there's any reason why you wouldn't get it can tell an interviewer more than all of the answers that you gave. It shows that you're confident, but it shows that you're open to feedback. It shows that you're coachable. And it gives you the opportunity to stand up for yourself where you probably wouldn't get that opportunity the next day. You might get a "Thanks, but no thanks," or "We're going in a different direction." I've still gotten a ton of those emails. Even if you ask this question, it doesn't mean that you'll get it, but it'll help you with your chances.

I would love to hear if any of you have questions that you've asked in interviews before that have positioned you in a great light that show your strength that show your skill sets that show that you're open to coaching. What are the questions that you ask? Tell me on my Instagram.

I'll leave you with this. Sometimes the answers that we're looking for lie within the questions themselves. Thanks for listening to Business on the Bright Side. I'm your host, Jess Ekstrom. For all the show notes, head to businessonthebrightside.com, and be sure to tell me what you thought of this episode on Instagram. And if you're picking up what I'm putting down, subscribe, and write a review wherever you consume podcasts. See you next time, and keep chasing the bright side.