It’s important to remember that every interview is a two-way street. An interview isn’t just a chance for a hiring manager to grill you with questions —it’s also your opportunity to learn more about the company and decide whether you would like to work there. You should be assessing the employer just as much as they’re assessing you, because you both need to walk away convinced that the job would be a great fit.
On the other hand, just nailing the interview questions are not enough to become the top tier candidate in today’s job market. You also need to ask the kind of questions that make the interviewer sit up and take notice. If you want a job in today’s business environment, you have to shine, and there’s no better way to show your excellence than by asking excellent questions. When the interview goes toward its end and the ball is in your hand, “Do you have any questions for me?” the interviewers ask. Take advantage of this opportunity and prepare insightful questions in advance. Here are some questions from The Muse and Monster that can give you a hand when preparing:
Questions to Ask About The company
- What exactly does this company value the most?
- Can you give me some examples of the most and least desirable aspects of the company’s culture?
- How does this company define and measure success?
- I’ve read about the company’s__, but can you tell me more about?
- Where do you see this company in the next few years?
- What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?
- What are the current goals that the company is focused on, and how does this team work to support hitting those goals?
Questions to Ask About The job
- What does a typical day look like?
- What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?
- What attributes does someone need to have in order to be successful in this role?
- What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?
- What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
- What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed by me?
- Can you show me examples of projects I’d be working on?
Questions to Ask About The Training and Professional Development
- How will I be trained?
- What training programs are available to your employees?
- Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?
- Would I be able to represent the company at industry conferences?
- Where is the last person who held this job moving on to?
- Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?
Questions to Ask About The Expected Performance
- What are the most important things you’d like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job?
- What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?
- What is the performance review process like here? How often would I be formally reviewed?
- What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?
- What kind of processes are in place to help me work collaboratively?
- In what area could your team use a little polishing?
Questions to Ask About The Interviewer
- How long have you been with the company?
- Has your role changed since you’ve been here?
- What did you do before this?
- Why did you come to this company?
- What’s your favourite part about working here?
Bonus Questions to Ask
- How long is the average tenure of an employee?
- Where would the company like to be in five years?
- Am I going to be a mentor or will I be mentored?
- How will you judge my success? What will have happened six months from now that will demonstrate that I have met your expectations?
- This job sounds like something I’d really like to do—is there a fit here?
- Now that we’ve talked about my qualifications and the job, do you have any concerns about my being successful in this position?
- What is the next step in the hiring process?
- When can I expect to hear back?
- By when do you hope to make someone an offer?
- When is the anticipated starting date for this position?
- Whom should I reach out to if I have any further questions?
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