The interview is drawing to a close. You’ve navigated the technical questions, shared your career history, and answered the tricky behavioural scenarios. You’re starting to feel a sense of relief. Then comes the final, seemingly innocuous moment that separates a good candidate from a great one. The hiring manager leans back, smiles, and asks, “So, do you have any questions for us?”
For the average Nigerian job seeker, this is a moment to either politely decline or ask a few generic, pre-packaged questions about the company. This is a monumental mistake. This is not a mere formality; it is your final, and perhaps most potent, opportunity to shine. The questions you ask are just as important, if not more so, than the answers you’ve given. They are a direct window into your priorities, your intelligence, your level of preparation, and your professional ambition. Asking the right question can transform you from a passive interviewee into an engaged, strategic partner in the conversation.
While you should always have several questions prepared, there is one question that stands head and shoulders above the rest. It is a question so powerful, so insightful, and so impressive that it has the potential to fundamentally shift the hiring manager’s perception of you. It moves you from the “qualified” pile to the “must-hire” list. In a job market as competitive as Nigeria’s, you need every advantage you can get. This is that advantage. This guide will not only reveal this powerhouse question but will also deconstruct why it works and how to use it to leave an unforgettable impression.
Why Most Candidates Get This Moment Wrong
Before unveiling the ultimate question, it’s crucial to understand what not to ask. The questions you ask can easily become red flags if they are not thoughtful. Here are the common traps that many Nigerian candidates fall into:
- The Unprepared Question: Asking something that could have been easily answered by a 5-minute search on their website or LinkedIn page (e.g., “So, what does your company do?”). This is the fastest way to signal a lack of preparation and genuine interest.
- The Selfish Question: Focusing solely on your own benefits too early in the process (e.g., “How many days of leave do I get?” or “When can I expect my first salary review?”). While these things are important, asking them at this stage makes you seem more interested in what you can get than what you can give.
- The Generic Question: Asking bland, overused questions that lack impact (e.g., “What is the company culture like?”). While not a terrible question, it’s weak and doesn’t differentiate you.
- The Confrontational Question: Asking about company problems in a negative way (e.g., “I read that your profits were down last quarter. What’s going on?”). There are better, more strategic ways to probe for challenges.
Avoiding these pitfalls is the first step. The next is to replace them with something far more strategic.
The Single Most Powerful Question to Ask a Nigerian Hiring Manager
After you have asked one or two clarifying questions about the role or the team, you should save your final, most impactful question for last. Lean in slightly, make confident eye contact, and ask:
“Looking back a year from now, what would the person you hire for this role have done to have absolutely exceeded your expectations?”
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the power packed into this single sentence. This question is a game-changer. It is not a question an average candidate asks. It’s a question a future top performer asks. It immediately reframes the entire conversation and elevates your status in the mind of the interviewer.
Deconstructing the Power: Why This Question Works So Well
This question is not just clever; it’s strategically brilliant for several reasons, especially within the Nigerian professional context where initiative and a results-driven mindset are highly prized.
1. It Signals You Are a High-Achiever
Notice the keyword: “exceeded.” You are not asking what it takes to do the job. You are not asking how to meet expectations. You are asking what it takes to be an outstanding success. This immediately tells the interviewer that you are a high-performer who is not interested in simply doing the bare minimum. You are an A-player, and you are already thinking about how to deliver exceptional value. In a work environment where employers often worry about productivity, this is music to their ears.
2. It Aligns You With the Hiring Manager’s Goals
This question forces the hiring manager to stop thinking of you as a candidate and start thinking of you as a solution to their problems. You are essentially asking, “What is your definition of success for this hire?” Their answer will give you a direct insight into their biggest priorities and pain points for the role. It shows that you are not just focused on the job description; you are focused on making your future boss successful.
3. It Forces Them to Visualize You Succeeding
The phrasing “the person you hire” is a subtle but powerful psychological trick. As they answer, the interviewer is mentally constructing a vision of the ideal employee. Because you are the one who asked the question, you become the face associated with that vision. They are, in that moment, picturing you as the person who will come in and solve all these problems and achieve these great things. You are helping them build the case for hiring you in their own mind.
4. It Provides Invaluable Insider Information
The answer to this question is a goldmine of information that you could never find in a job description. The manager might say, “To exceed expectations, they would have streamlined our reporting process, which is currently a mess,” or “They would have successfully onboarded our new key client in Port Harcourt.” This tells you exactly where the real challenges and opportunities lie. It’s a roadmap for what you need to do in your first year to get promoted and become an indispensable member of the team.
5. It Demonstrates Strategic Thinking
This is not a simple factual question. It is a strategic, forward-looking question. It shows that you think about the bigger picture, that you are goal-oriented, and that you plan for long-term success. These are all hallmarks of a future leader, not just a junior employee.
Interpreting the Answer: What Their Response Tells You
Pay close attention to how they answer. Their response is as revealing about the company as your question is about you.
- A Detailed, Enthusiastic Answer: If the manager’s eyes light up and they give you a clear, detailed list of goals and benchmarks, this is a fantastic sign. It means they have a clear vision for the role, they are passionate about its potential, and they are excited by your question. This often indicates a well-managed team with clear objectives.
- A Vague or Unsure Answer: If the manager struggles to answer, saying something like, “Hmm, that’s a good question. I guess just do the job well,” this can be a red flag. It might indicate that the role is not well-defined, that there are no clear metrics for success, or that the department is disorganized.
- An Answer Focused on Personality: If the answer is solely about fitting in (“They would just be a great team player and not cause any trouble”), it might suggest a culture that values conformity over performance and innovation.
Your Arsenal: Other Powerful Runner-Up Questions
While the “exceeded expectations” question is your ultimate weapon, you should never go into an interview with only one question. You need a few more in your back pocket. Here are some excellent runner-ups:
- “What are the biggest challenges the person in this role will face in the first three months?” (This shows you are a realistic problem-solver.)
- “Can you describe the team I would be working with?” (This shows you value collaboration.)
- “What does the career path for someone in this role typically look like at your company?” (This shows you are ambitious and thinking long-term.)
- “How does this role contribute to the larger goals of the company?” (This shows you are a big-picture thinker.)
- “What do you personally enjoy most about working here?” (This is a great question to build rapport with the interviewer.)
Conclusion: From Interviewee to Consultant
The end of the interview is not the time to relax; it’s the time to make your final, lasting impression. The questions you ask are a powerful demonstration of your intellect, your ambition, and your fit for the role. By moving beyond generic inquiries and asking a truly strategic question like, “What would it take to exceed your expectations?”, you fundamentally change the dynamic. You cease to be just another applicant answering questions and become a strategic consultant, already thinking about how to deliver outstanding results for their business.
In the competitive Nigerian professional landscape, this shift in perception is everything. Prepare your questions as diligently as you prepare your answers, and walk into your next interview ready not just to respond, but to engage, impress, and ultimately, get hired.