What Does Excellent Performance Look Like in a Job Interview?

Asking "What does excellent performance look like in this role?" during a job interview is a powerful strategy that shifts the dynamic from passive questioning to proactive partnership. Based on our assessment experience, this single question demonstrates your commitment to exceeding expectations and provides a clear roadmap for success in the position. Understanding these performance standards allows you to tailor your responses to prove you are the ideal candidate.

Why Should You Ask About Excellent Performance?

Framing your questions around job excellence offers several key advantages. Primarily, it moves the conversation beyond basic job duties to the specific outcomes and behaviors the company truly values. This is often tied to the organization's key performance indicators (KPIs), which are measurable values that demonstrate how effectively an individual is achieving key business objectives. By uncovering these KPIs, you gain a strategic understanding of what success looks like in the first 30, 60, and 90 days. This insight helps you assess if the role's expectations align with your skills and long-term career aspirations. Furthermore, posing this question signals to the interviewer that you are results-oriented, genuinely interested in contributing to the company's goals, and capable of strategic thinking.

How Do You Structure the Question Effectively?

Timing and phrasing are critical to ensuring your question lands with maximum impact. The goal is to integrate it seamlessly into the conversation.

1. When is the right moment to ask? The ideal time is after you have thoroughly discussed your qualifications and the interviewer has a solid understanding of your experience. This often occurs after you've answered competency-based questions or shared examples of your past successes. Introducing the question at this point feels like a natural progression of a collaborative dialogue, positioning you as a thoughtful and engaged candidate.

2. What is the best way to phrase it? Your phrasing should highlight your enthusiasm for excelling. Avoid generic questions. Instead, use specific, open-ended phrasing that invites detailed answers. For example:

• "Based on your experience, what would you say separates a good performer from an excellent one in this role within the first six months?"
• "Could you describe a specific accomplishment that would represent a home run for the person in this position after one year?"

These approaches show you are not just looking to meet the minimum requirements but are eager to understand how to make a significant impact.

What Should You Do With the Answer?

The interviewer's response is a goldmine of information. Your reaction to it is just as important as asking the question.

• Practice Active Listening: Listen attentively, maintain eye contact, and nod to show engagement.
• Take Brief Notes: Jot down key terms and metrics mentioned. This not only helps you remember details but also visually reinforces your serious interest in the role.
• Ask for Clarification: If any point is unclear, ask a follow-up question. For instance, if they emphasize "cross-functional collaboration," you might ask, "Could you give an example of a typical cross-functional project this role would engage in?" This demonstrates your attention to detail and desire for a complete understanding.

How Can You Incorporate This Insight into Your Interview Responses?

Once you understand the benchmarks for excellence, you can directly align your subsequent answers with them. This is where you solidify your candidacy. If the interviewer highlights "problem-solving under tight deadlines" as a key trait, you can later share a specific STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) example from your past that demonstrates exactly that skill. By mirroring the language and priorities of the interviewer, you provide concrete evidence that you not only understand what is required but have a proven track record of delivering it.

Conclusion Paragraph Asking about excellent performance transforms a standard interview into a strategic conversation. The key takeaway is to use the insight gained to tailor your examples, proving you are the solution to the company's needs. Always listen actively and ask clarifying questions to show genuine engagement. Finally, confidently articulate how your skills map directly onto their definition of success. This proactive approach significantly enhances your chances of being perceived as the top candidate.