Thoughts about competition in the form of other candidates and questions about the company’s benefits are something that Johanna Wadsten often hears in her job as a recruiter. To help you as a job seeker, she lists the questions she often receives from candidates and tells how a recruiter thinks when they answer them.

“How long will the recruitment take?”

As a recruiter, you understand that the candidate wants to know an approximate time frame for the process and when an offer may come. But a lot can happen along the way. The right person must be found – and the candidate must be interested in the job. According to Johanna Wadsten, you can always call the recruiter and ask for feedback after the interview, but have some ice in your stomach and let it go for a few weeks. Worth knowing is that a good recruiter has a structured feedback process and always at the end of the interview usually explains what the next step will be.

“How many other candidates do you meet in this process?”

Candidates often want to know who they are competing with and how great their chances of getting the job are. According to Johanna Wadsten, recruitments often take place on an ongoing basis, which means that the recruiter does not wait for the application period to expire but goes through the applications as time goes on. How many people are in the process right now therefore do not need to say anything about what it will look like in a couple of days? In the private sector, a candidate can get the job before the application period in the ad has expired, so it is good that you apply as soon as possible.

“Why did I not get the job?”

That you want to know the reason why you fell on the finish line is not at all strange. The tricky thing is that there can be many answers to this question and sometimes it is not personal to you. Maybe there was a candidate with a stronger profile and background than you? Or you were equally strong with another candidate who in the end was judged to fit better into the team. No matter what, it’s always okay to ask the recruiter for motivation. Here you have the opportunity to get feedback and a chance to hone what you can for next time.

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“What can you offer me?”

The labour market is changing and today it is not just a matter of the candidate having to sell himself – recruiters and employers often also need to sell the job. The fact that you dare to ask what you can get out of accepting a job, says Johanna Wadsten, signals that you understand your own value. If you are good at what you do, it is not at all strange that you weigh different jobs against each other. Here you can get answers on whether the company offers, for example, wellness and in-house training – or if they are willing to offer you something else that you really want to get you to say yes.

“What is the company’s dress code?”

It is perfectly normal to think about more practical issues such as dress and routines in the workplace. Can employees flex? Work at home? And do you have to wear a jacket? Even if the recruiter himself does not work at the company in question, they can often answer more detailed things as well. You do not have to hesitate to raise these issues as they only signal that you are interested in the job.

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Mohamed Firnas

“🌟 Meet Mohamed Firnas: With over two decades of experience in HR, Mohamed is a trusted advisor known for his strategic insight and compassionate leadership style. He’s committed to creating workplaces where every voice is heard and valued. 💼 Passionate about nurturing talent and driving positive change. Join him on the journey towards building better organizations! #HRProfessional #GulfRegion #Leadership”

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