Questions to Ask In a Job Interview
Most people often forget that an interview is a two-way street. The same way the interviewer is asking questions to check if you’re a perfect fit for the company. Is the same way you should ask questions to confirm if the company you’re interviewing for is the perfect fit for you and your career goals.
When the interviewer asks if you have any questions for them, be sure to confirm the company is a great fit for you. There are certain questions to ask in a job interview that can help you identify this. When doing your research don’t just prepare for the questions you’ll be asked but for the questions, you will ask. Asking questions at the end of the interview also shows you’re interested in the position and opens up a space for dialogue.
Here are some important questions to ask in a job interview to make you appear more than competent;
Your Role in the company
Based on the job advertisement and the questions you’ve been asked by the interviewers. You have a general feel for what your new position would entail. It’s important to go beyond the formalities and get into detail about what your role would entail. Most of the time the job advertisements are recycled year after year. The job descriptions might not be updated regularly. Here are some questions to ask in a job interview to get to know about the role advertised.
- What does a typical day look like in this position?
- How does this position contribute to the company’s overall success?
- What would you consider as a job well done in this role? This is a way of getting to understand how the company measures its KPIs.
- Are there any challenges I should expect in this position? If there are no challenges that are associated with the position that the interviewer can mention, proceed with caution.
RELATED: 10 Ways To Make The Most Out Of Your Career This Year
Management & Leadership Style
Before working for any organization, you will want to know their management style. You don’t want to be stuck in an organization where you are not able to give feedback. Does it encourage growth? How well do they adapt to change? These are things you should find out before accepting a job. Here are some questions to ask in a job interview to get to know about the management and leadership style:
- How does employee feedback incorporated in the organization?
- How do managers deliver negative feedback to employees?
- Are there ways managers set up their employees for success?
- How do employees collaborate with managers in this position?
Company Culture
Company culture is a very important aspect of any organization. A strong company culture attracts and retains its talent. When people feel like they’re part of a family in an organization they are more likely to stay longer. If the company culture is intolerable the churn rate will be higher.
Ask questions that will help you identify the type of culture that’s there. If the response is warm then you’re good to go. If it’s something in the lines of fast-paced, proceed with caution. You want a company culture that motivates you to do a good job. Here are some questions to ask in a job interview that will help you identify the company culture:
- How would you describe the company culture?
- What does the company do to encourage life work balance?
- What makes people stay at this company? The response to this will give you a deeper insight into the company culture.
- How is the work environment here?
- What benefits does your company offer its employees?
RELATED: What to do when you hate your job but can’t quit
Performance & KPI Measurements
Having a good feel of the company’s expectations performance-wise is very important. You need to know how the company measures its success if at all. Here are questions to ask in a job interview that will assist in figuring it out;
- How are employees recognized for their hard work? The answer should be in the lines of a bonus or gifts and even a promotion.
- What is the frequency of project updated to the immediate superior? You don’t want a micromanager for a boss. If they say everyday and it’s a long term project, proceed with caution.
- How often are employees evaluated?
RELATED: How to cope with a boss that hates you
Growth Opportunities
Depending on your career goals you will want to identify if there are any opportunities for growth in the company. You don’t want to be stuck in the same position for more than five years. If you are in the same position you want to make sure you have grown in terms of training and education. There are certain questions you can ask to identify the chances for growth
- What is the average number of years someone stays in the same position?
- Are there any education or training opportunities that the company offers?
- What career growth opportunities are there for someone applying for this position?
- How has the position I am applying for evolved over time?
Personalize The Experience With The Interviewers
You want to come off as warm and thoughtful in your interview. Asking the interviewers some questions will make the whole experience better. Here are some questions you can ask to personalize the experience:
- Who will I be reporting to? Chances are they are in the interview room with you
- What do you love and enjoy the most about working in this company?
- What kind of hobbies do you have outside the office? This depends on your interview panel. If they’re friendly you can ask them this to see if you are compatible with the people who work for that organization.
Next Steps
As the interview ends, you will need to know where you stand. You want to identify how you will know if you succeeded for the position or if you failed. Job interviews are already stressful as is, and the waiting for a call back is even more torture. Asking about the next steps after the interview will show your level of interest and will give you a definitive answer on when to stop waiting for a call back.
- What is the next step of the interview process?
- When can I expect to hear from you? This is where they will advice how long to wait
- If you have a portfolio, ask if they would like samples of your work.
These questions wull help determine if the company is a great fit for you. You don’t have to ask all the questions but one in each category would be great. Asking the interviewer questions can make you the most impressive candidate for the job.