What Questions To Ask In A Job Interview

Questions To Learn About The Job

Ask questions that will help you determine if you would actually like the job, and be able to do it well.

• Why is this position open? Is it a new position? Or is it a replacement for someone?
• How long does someone typically stay in this job?
• How many hours a week does someone in this job typically work? Is overtime accepted or expected?
• Do most employees check email over the weekends and stay in touch while on vacation? Is that required for this job?
• Do employees sometimes work from home or telecommute in this job? How many people telecommute? How many hours a week?
• Who does the person in this job report to? What is the bosss job title, and where are they located?
• What is the salary grade for this job? Where does this job salary grade rank in your salary grades?
• What can you tell me about this job that isnt in the description?
• What are your future plans for this job?
• What are the prospects for growth for the person in this job?
• How long do people stay in this job?
• How often is this job open?
• Who does the person in this job report to?
• How often are performance reviews provided? Do employees receive feedback from their managers?
• Is travel to meet with clients or suppliers or to represent this organization required for this job? If so, where, how long, how far, and how often?
• Where is this job located?

Ask about anything else in your preparation that raised questions for you. Read for leveraging Google before the interview.

Ask These Questions To Learn About Co

If the person would be a co-worker, learn more about how things look from this persons level by asking questions like these:

• How often is this job filled?
• How long have you worked for this employer?
• How long have you been in this job?
• Are you glad you took this job? Are you happy to be working here? Why?
• What makes someone successful in this job?
• Have you received any training here or taken any classes this employer paid for?
• Have long do people typically stay in this job? How many coworkers have left? Where did they go?

Understanding more about the person will help you choose the next questions to ask, and also help you keep their responses in perspective.

Do You Have Any Additional Questions For Me

Asking this question gives your interviewer the opportunity to inquire a bit more about a certain part of your work experience or skills. It also helps you gauge how well the interview is going. If the interviewer responds, “I think you have adequately covered everything.” this may indicate that you effectively answered all of your questions. If they decide they have more questions, use this as your chance to give them a clearer picture of your professional background and qualifications.

Don’t Miss: What Are Questions They Ask In An Interview

Preparing Good Questions To Ask The Interviewer

You can learn a lot about an open position through the basic application process, but to really get the down and dirty about what will be expected of you, you need to make sure you prepare good questions to ask the interviewer as well.

Isnt that awkward? I mean, are hiring managers okay with me asking for more details?

Are you kidding?!?

Asking the hiring manager questions is like bringing flowers and chocolates with you. Not only are you getting more information about the job, youre showing the interviewer that you genuinely care about the position, the company, and your role should you get hired.

Imagine thisyoure a hiring manager and youve just had a potential candidate interview with you. Their answers to your questions are pretty solid and youre wrapping up the interview.

So, you say, giving the eager young candidate a smile. Any questions for me?

The candidate clears their throat, nervous. You can tell by the look in their eye all they want to do is get out of there. No, they stammer. Im good. Thank you!

You shake hands and they leave. You sigh in disappointment. Such a missed opportunity. Maybe the next one will have some questions for you.

In fact, according to a Glassdoor Survey of 750 hiring managers, nine in ten hiring decision makers agree that an informed candidate is a quality candidate. and that an informed candidate is prepared for interview and asks pertinent questions.

Whats The Biggest Decision Youve Had To Make In The Past Year Why Was It So Big

Here’s a great way to figure out how a candidate approaches decision-making. Were they quick to make that big decision, or did it take them a long time? Did they spend most of their time reflecting on it by themselves or fleshing it out with others? How did they make a plan?

A good answer to this question:

Candidates’ answers could be work-related or personal. In addition to revealing their thought process, as described above, an effective response to this interview question will also show how the candidate was able to prioritize what was most important when each possible option might have had its own advantages and disadvantages.

If your candidate had hiring power in a previous position, for example, maybe they found it hard to choose between two job candidates of their own. A good answer might show that they saw immediate skill in one candidate but long-term potential in the other. Although both people had usable strengths, your candidate chose the second person because he or she offered he best return on investment.

You May Like: How To Impress In An Interview

Who Would I Be Working With The Most

While job descriptions tend to include what department you’ll be working in or who you’ll be reporting to, sometimes employers leave out this information. Asking this question can help you figure out who your potential team members and manager will be. With this information, you can even look them up on the company’s team page.

Questions To Ask A Teaching Interviewer

You May Like: How To Write A Thank You Note For An Interview

What Do You Like To Do Outside Of Work

Many companies feel cultural fit is extremely important, and they use outside interests as a way to determine how you will fit into a team.

Even so, don’t be tempted to fib and claim to enjoy hobbies you don’t. Focus on activities that indicate some sort of growth: skills you’re trying to learn, goals you’re trying to accomplish. Weave those in with personal details. For example, “I’m raising a family, so a lot of my time is focused on that, but I’m using my commute time to learn Spanish.”

‘where Do You See Yourself In Five Years’

Becca Brown, the cofounder of the women’s shoe-care company Solemates, interviewed 20 to 30 job candidates a year in her various roles at Goldman Sachs. She previously told Business Insider she wished candidates would have asked her this question.

“I like this question, and yet no one ever asked it because it’s difficult to answer,” she said. “It’s an important question for anyone to be asking him or herself, and so if ever a candidate were to ask this question, it would have stood out.”

She continued: “I think this is a good question for interviewees to ask because as a candidate if you see where the person interviewing you is headed, you can decide if that trajectory is in line with your career objectives. While they don’t have to be completely correlated, it’s helpful for the candidate to have some indication of the interviewer’s direction.”

Recommended Reading: How To Prepare For A Call Center Interview

Questions To Ask In An Interview: Final Thoughts

When youre thinking about questions to ask an interviewer, remember that your goal is to appear like someone who has done their research on the company, is enthusiastic about the position, and eager to get started.

You dont want to raise any red flags or sow seeds of doubt or negativity about your qualifications or professionalism.

To help avoid this, when it comes to questions to ask in an interview, you should not ask about salary and benefits just yet.

Wait until you are in the final steps of the interview process to negotiate your compensation package with the hiring manager or HR representative.

Now that you are prepared with strong questions to ask in an interview, dont forget to practice aloud to help build confidence when the big day rolls around.

Pamela Skillings

Chief Interview Coach

Pamela Skillings is co-founder of Big Interview. As one of the country’s top interview coaches, she has helped her clients land dream jobs at companies including Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan Chase

Impressive Questions To Ask In A Job Interview

When youâre interviewing for a new position, itâs the interviewerâs opportunity to ask job interview questions, get to know you, and evaluate whether youâre a good fit for the role.

But job interviews are a two-way street. Just like the interviewer uses smart questions to determine whether youâre the right fit for the job, as an interviewee, you also have to ask the best questions to evaluate the company and the position â and whether it aligns with what youâre looking for in your next career move.

But as a candidate, what, exactly, are good questions to ask during the interview process to ensure that you gather all the information you need to make an informed decision about the role? How can you find out if you’re interviewing for the best new job for your career?

Letâs take a look at 23 interview questions youâll want to have on hand during your next interview, so you ask the right questions .

Also Check: How To Ace An Online Job Interview

What Questions Might A Candidate Ask An Interviewer

Most interviews end with the question, do you have any questions for us? Here are some questions a candidate might ask an interviewer:

• Why is this position open?
• What are the average daily responsibilities of this job?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What is your training/onboarding process?
• What can I expect in my first 30/60/90 days on the job?
• What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role?
• What is your favorite part of working for this company?
• What development opportunities does the organization offer?
• What changes do you expect to see within the company over the next year/five years?
• What are the next steps in the interview process?

Remember that an interview is a two-way street where the candidate evaluates whether to join the company. Preparing thoughtful, thorough, and confident responses to common applicant questions makes a positive impression. Of course, a candidate may pose a unique or interesting question that catches you off guard, in which case you can buy time to think by commenting, that is a great question!

P.S: Press “CTRL + D” or “Command + D” to bookmark this page – we update it often.

Can You Tell Me More About The Day

Asking this question enables you to learn as much about the role as possible. The interviewer’s response will provide insight into what skills and experience are needed, and will also help you decide if the role is right for you.

The answer will give you an idea of what the employer’s expectations are, so if you’re offered the job there should be no surprises when you start.

Recommended Reading: What To Ask When Interviewing Someone

What Are You Looking For In An Ideal Candidate For This Position

Itâs important to understand what the interviewer and company considers to be an ideal candidate for the role theyâre hiring for that way, you can compare their idea of an ideal candidate with your skills and qualifications to see if theyâre a match. For example, if the interviewer tells you ââ¦the ideal candidate would have at least five years of experience managing a teamâ â and youâve never managed any direct reports â you know that, in their eyes, youâre not quite the right fit for the position.

When Were You Most Satisfied In Your Job

The interviewer who asks, “When were you most satisfied in your job?” wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. “I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems that is an important part of the job for me.”

Read Also: What Questions To Ask In A Nurse Practitioner Interview

Questions About The Hiring Process

One way to indicate youre serious about the role is to ask questions that demonstrate your interest in the hiring process. Doing so shows that you care about the outcome giving the employer a better impression of you.

Good Interview Questions to Ask Include:

Red Flags

If your interviewer clams up at the questions youre asking, it probably means that theyre not going invite you to continue through the hiring process. In that case, dont get your hopes up, and start looking for your next opportunity.

Learn About The Employer

Familiarize yourself with the employer before your interview by reading their Handshake page, company website, and searching for recent news online. Avoid asking questions about things that are readily available online, and show the interviewer that youve done your homework.

• What are the most important company values?
• What are the biggest goals for the company?
• How does this team/role contribute to the company goals?
• What excites you most about the companys future?

Recommended Reading: When To Email After Interview

Common Interview Questions And Answers

Interview questions help recruiters assess a candidate’s suitability for a role. Answering questions is also an opportunity for the job seeker to share career highlights and address weaknesses. In this article, we will look at ways to prepare for interview questions and sample answers you can provide.

‘have I Answered All Your Questions’

Before you begin asking your questions, find out if there’s anything they’d like you to elaborate on. You can do this by saying something like: “Yes, I do have a few questions for you but before I get into those, I am wondering if I’ve sufficiently answered all of your questions. Would you like me to explain anything further or give any examples?”

Not only will they appreciate the offer, but it may be a good chance for you to gauge how well you’re doing, says Bill York, an executive recruiter with over 30 years of experience and the founder of the executive search firm Tudor Lewis.

If they say, “No, you answered all of my questions very well,” then this may tell you you’re in good shape. If they respond with, “Actually, could you tell me more about X?” or “Would you be able to clarify what you meant when you said Y?” this is your chance for a redo.

Read Also: How To Interview A Bookkeeper

How To Structure Your Interviews

Structured interviews are effective methods of predicting job performance. Their three main characteristics are:

• You ask all candidates the same questions.
• You ask questions in the same order.
• You evaluate answers based on standardized rating scales.

The first two characteristics are easy, yet critical for success. If you ask different questions of each candidate, its impossible to objectively compare their answers. This will result in you trying to make a hiring decision on your gut feeling which potentially leads to harmful biases and discrimination.

So, when you decide which interview questions to ask, spend some time putting them in order. To do this, use the format of an interview scorecard its possible your applicant tracking system has a function to help you build scorecards and share them with your team.

The third characteristic of a structured interview the rating scales is immensely helpful in ensuring youll hire objectively. You create a scale and then you evaluate candidates answers with that scale. To do this right, define what exactly each item on the scale means.

Alternatively, you could use a simpler scale, such as Yes, No and Definitely

Questions To Ask To An Interviewer About Next Steps

Read Also: What Is A Job Interview Like