Best Questions To Ask An Interviewer
Hooray! Youve been called in to a job interview. This means that youve done an excellent job at creating your tailored resume so kudos on that. Your work isnt over though. Now you need to prepare for your interview and that includes coming up with some intelligent questions to ask your interviewer.
You see, an interview is a two way street. Its not only about them finding out if youre a perfect fit for the company. Its also about you finding out if theyre the perfect fit for you. They expect you to ask them questions. If you end up just sitting there without anything to add to the conversation you can be sure theyll find someone else. Because theyll think youre not interested. Lets not let that happen to you!
You should prepare at least two questions to ask your interviewer at the end of your job interview. These questions need to show your interest in the company and your drive to excel in the position. Choose wisely and make sure you have a couple backup questions in place in case your preferred questions get answered during the interview.
Are you ready? Here are the best questions you can ask an interviewer after the job interview.
What Should I Avoid Doing
Dont ask anything you could have found out by reading their website or watching the news.
Dont ask closed questions, you wont learn much and it can kill any rapport you have established .
Some people favour asking the interviewer something about themselves, or their experience at the company.
I dont like this, the interviewer is probably only going to share generic, non-committal information thats broadly positive. So you wont learn much. The same goes for really broad questions along the lines of whats the culture like?
Some people favour asking questions that demonstrate your research into the company by asking something about strategy, or initiatives the company has undertaken.
This can work, but it runs the risk of being irrelevant to the role you are applying for and making the interviewer feel like they are being tested.
If you do ask a question like this, make sure its relevant to the vacancy.
Questions To Ask The Interviewer That Highlight Your Company Research
Do some background research before the interview using these guidelines on how to find job interview information on the company.
Consider the sort of challenges the company is facing and think about how these affect the position you are interviewing for. What does the organization need from the successful candidate?
Prepare relevant and thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer using the information you are able to gather on the company. Good examples include:
“How has the recent merger impacted on the company?”
“Your new CEO comes from a main competitor, what changes can the company expect and will there be any impact on this position?”
“I read that a major competitor of yours is increasing its market share in this region. What plan does your company have to regain this lost share?”
For advice on the information you need about the company go to preparing for interviews
You May Like: Mailscoop Io
How Many Questions Should I Ask In An Interview
You should prepare at least four to five solid questionsmore is great of course, but less can lead you down a dark path.
Why?
Because odds are some of your questions might be answered during the course of the interview and if you havent prepared enough, you run the risk of ending up at the end with nothing left to askand weve already covered how that looks.
Okay, Im readylets get started!
Before you run off and begin writing down your questions, remembertailor, tailor, tailor! Just like youve tailored all your responses so far, tailoring your questions only helps to reinforce the idea that youre the perfect candidate!
How do you do this? The same way you do for traditional and behavioral questions. Do your research. Find Qualities, and infuse them into your questions to ask. Heres an example of a question to ask with a Quality infused:
In my past role I was leaned on heavily to provide leadership to a team of individuals, which I felt was an area that I succeeded in. What are the main responsibilities I would have that would require an elite level of leadership and could you see my past experience as a team leader benefiting me?
Wow! If I were a hiring manager, I would be blown away by this question. The candidate is proving that they really care about the job and making sure theyre able to do their absolute best if they were hired.
What Are Some Unique Questions To Ask An Interviewer
Questions to ask the applicant during an interview What is one misconception people have about you? Who at your previous place of work gave you the most energy and why? If you could wave a magic wand, what problem in the world would you solve and why? What were your most and least satisfying jobs, and why?
Don’t Miss: System Design Interview Prep
Can You Walk Me Through A Typical Day Here At Company X
Having the day laid out for you from beginning to end is a smart way to get a quick overview of what is expected of you outside the job description. I was hired for a job once where all the employees were expected to participate in a group physical activity before starting our day.
Had I not asked about a typical day I would have been completely unprepared for my first day and unable to participate. Not a great way to start out a new job!
‘what’s One Of The Most Interesting Projects Or Opportunities That You’ve Worked On’
“I like this question because it gets me thinking about my own experiences, and my response changes depending on what I was or am working on and in theory, should always be changing if I’m challenging myself and advancing,” Brown previously told Business Insider.
Brown said that by asking for a specific example, candidates can get a better picture of what the job entails and how people function in certain roles.
“I always liked getting this question because it would make me reflect on what experiences I was excited about or proud of at the time, and it would make me want to create more of these types of opportunities and experiences,” she said.
Don’t Miss: How To Prepare System Design Interview
Where Do You Think The Company Is Headed In The Next Five Years
The response you receive will give you an insight into the company’s progression plans and its place in the market, while giving you a general idea about job security. You may also get a heads-up on any major upcoming projects.
Asking about future plans shows a real interest in the organisation and reiterates your commitment to the company.
Questions To Ask A Teaching Interviewer
Read Also: Questions To Ask Cfo During Interview
Whats Instrumental To Your Organization That An Outside Person Wouldnt Know About
Most interviewers are prepared to answer a standard repertoire of questions, which can make it difficult for candidates to uncover information thats unrehearsed. This question is about the interviewers personal experiences and therefore could yield results that are candid. It will likely disrupt the interviewers routine and force them to think about the conversation in a new lightwhich also makes your interaction more memorable.
What’s Your Favorite Part About Working At The Company Or What Does The Work
Most hiring managers have a good idea about what they enjoy and dislike about working for their employer.
Ask what they love and listen to HOW they say it, not just what they say. If there’s passion or a smile behind it, it’s a good sign.
Ask others within the office what the work-life balance looks like if you get time to chat or job shadow. They will likely be more inclined to give you an honest answer than leadership.
If answers conflict with what the hiring manager said, this might not be the best fit!
You May Like: Interview Attire Womens
More Tools To Help You Ace Your Interviews
If you want more tips to stand out in your next interview , here are a couple of things to make sure youre doing.
First, be sure to send thank-you emails one day after the interview. This is a great way to set yourself apart and show the employer you made the extra effort.
Also, Id recommend reviewing this in-depth article on tips for how to pass a job interview. It contains some of the best info I learned while working 5+ years as a recruiter.
And finally, heres a list of the key things every hiring manager is looking for. Make sure you review that so you target the things they care most about in your interview.
Asking good questions is one piece of the interview puzzle, but you also need to perform well in the interview and follow-up professionally after its over. So those resources above will help you with those areas.
Great Example Questions To Ask At The End Of An Interview
Weve prepared 14 solid explanations below for you to help kick start your creative juices as well as included why theyre good questions to ask the interviewer.
Of course, as always, these are example questions meant to help you write your own.
Don’t Miss: Questions To Ask A Cfo During An Interview
What Metrics Would You Use To Measure Success In This Role
Asking a question like this shows that you’re goal-oriented and aren’t afraid to be held accountable for those goals. You don’t shirk accountability. You welcome it — and will work hard to hit the goals you’re responsible for.
How It Helps You
It’s shocking how many people don’t actually know what they want from their employees beyond a vague idea of some work that needs to get done. Asking this question will force a hiring manager to figure it out — and then can communicate it to you, so you can execute on it.
Questions About The Organization
- What are the organization’s biggest challenges?
- How would the person doing this job be involved in meeting these challenges?
- What are the company’s long-range plans?
- How does the organization support professional development?
- What are the prospects for advancement within the organization?
- What is the organizations management style?
Read Also: Top 10 Behavioral Questions
Get A View Of The Future
Asking questions about the growth of the company and its employees is a good idea for two reasons. I always ask what a company’s goals are for the next five to ten years. It gives a good perspective on what their values are and how I may or may not fit with a company, says Diane Kulseth, another young professional. Plus, asking about the future of the company and opportunities for your own growth shows that youre committed and eager to learn. You can ask:
- Where do you see this company in the next few years?
- What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth?
- What training programs are available to your employees?
- Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?
Questions You Should Not Ask In A Job Interview
Ok, now that you have some surefire questions you can ask that will impress hiring manager lets go over the types of questions you should avoid asking. As youll see, these questions reflect poorly on you and paint you as a less than ideal candidate
Also Check: Interview Attire Women
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.
Do You Have Any Questions Or Concerns About My Qualifications
This question shows that you’re not afraid of critical feedback — in fact, you welcome it. Interviewers tend to make note of red flags — whether it be something on your resume or something you said — to discuss with a colleague following the interview. This question gives them the green light to ask about any of the things that are holding them back from being 100% on board with hiring you.
How It Helps You
You get a chance to address concerns face-to-face without being too confrontational. This could be the difference between an offer and a rejection — or maybe even a higher opening offer.
Also Check: Questions To Ask A Cfo In An Interview
Can You Describe The Working Culture Of The Organisation
Asking this question is a great way to assess the working environment of the company and it gives you the opportunity to discover whether you’ll fit in.
From the recruiters response you’ll learn if and how the organisation prioritises employee happiness, of any benefits on offer and what the work-life balance is like.
Questions To Ask About Your Colleagues
The other important aspect of your job is peoplewho you will be working with can greatly affect your success and job satisfaction. I like to ask directly about the people I will be working withgoing so far as to ask to meet them!
You May Like: Cfo Interview
