Answering all the questions thrown at you in an Interview is all well and good, but the difference between getting the job and not getting it could all come down to the questions that you ask. Obviously, the questions that you form pre-interview will all be dependent on the job and the company you’re interviewing for. But there are still some more generic questions you should ask, not just to help you nail the interview, but to give you a better feel for the company and the job you could be going into.
To help with your interview prep we’ve put together X questions you should ask in your interview. We aren’t suggesting you ask all of these questions, but select a few that will be a good fit for the role you’re hoping to take on and the company you’re looking to work with.
The Job
The first and probably most pertinent questions you’ll want to ask are about the job you’re applying for. Not only will these questions help you look more involved and interested in the role, but they’ll help you better prepare for the role should you land the job.
Can you give me an example of the sorts of projects I’ll be involved in?
Can you show me some of the most successful or commendable work recently completed?
What challenges can I expect in the day to day role?
How will the role change in the next 12 months if at all?
What skills do you think are required for someone to really excel within this job?
What software would I be required to use regularly i.e. CRM systems etc...?
The Interviewer
A good interview, as we said, isn’t just about answering the question in the right way. They’re about building a rapport with the Interviewer, too. Asking them about their time with the company and how they feel about the job will show an inquisitiveness beyond other candidates they’ve interviewed and help you come across a more sociable and friendly employee.
Why do you like working here?
How long have you been here for?
What is your background within the industry?
What drew you to working for this company specifically?
What’s the best thing about your day to day job?
Expectations
Give yourself the best possible start by better understanding what’s expected of you from day one. Finding out things like how you’re performance will be evaluated could be a make or break deal for you. Asking whether your CV is missing anything they’re looking for could also pre-empt them picking holes in your resume, giving you the upper hand and an opportunity to address those missing skills.
Is my CV missing anything that you’re looking for?
What are you hoping the successful candidate will accomplish on the first week, month, and year of the job?
How will my performance be evaluated?
How often are formal reviews of performance?
The Company
Do your own research at home before the interview about the company. Always. But don’t think that asking questions about them within the interview shows lack of prep. If anything, it shows that you’re eager to learn and genuinely interested in the company and where it’s headed in the future.
I’ve done some research on the company, but would like a little more back story as to how the company really became what it is today...
What challenges in the last few years has the company come up against?
What are the plans for future projects or products that will help push the company forward?
Do you consider the company an industry leader?
Where do you think the company currently lacks?
The Team
The team you’re going to work within are going to become the people you see most in a week and can make or break your work experience. Uncover some more about them and their attitude to work, with these team related questions.
Could you give me a little more information about the team I’ll be working with?
Who will I be reporting to day to day?
Is the department expecting to grow in the next 12 months?
Which other departments within the company does the team work most closely with?
Work Culture
So you think the team sound like they’ll be a pleasure to work with, great! That doesn’t mean that you’ll gel though. That all comes down to work culture. If you’re looking to work in a certain environment, these are the questions you’ll want to ask. They’ll help uncover just how work, social, and day to day office life gel together (if at all...)
What is the company and team culture like?
Do people within the company socialise outside of work?
What was the last work event that was held?
Do the company sometimes fund social events for employees?
What’s changed about working here since you joined?
Do different departments often socialise with each other?
Are there any work traditions?
Do teams go to lunch together?
The Future
Self progression is important and if you want your career to move in the right direction (which I’m sure you do) you need to know that there’s room to move up. Pose these questions to your interviewer to learn if there’s an opportunity for growth within the role.
What opportunities are there for growth within the team?
Is there a common career path that people who have moved up within the company followed?
Where do you see the company in the next 5 years?
What Happens Next?
The closing minutes of the interview are here. Time to find out what you need to do to help secure the job. Ask these questions to find what your next steps should be and what info they’ll need you to provide.
What are the next steps in the application process?
Is there any more information you’ll need from me?
Are there any final questions you have?
A Little Advice...
Before you scrub down your interview suit and get to bed early, we just wanted to remind you of a few bits of general advice. Bear these in mind before heading into the interview with your questions perched on the edges of your lips. Oh, and good luck!
· Avoid ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions – Most of these questions should be answered in your pre-interview preparation. Plus, ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions often stun a conversation short.
· Don’t get too personal – Yes, it’s all about creating a rapport with the interviewer, but don’t try and get too friendly. Stalked their Facebook profile? They don’t need to know that and it might come across a little strong asking about their new born baby...
· One question at a time – If you’re nervous you might end up rattling all your questions off in one breath. Take it easy. One question at a time. You don’t want to overwhelm them.
· Don’t be ask the wrong questions – It’s easy for us to say here, right? What we mean by the ‘wrong questions’ are things like, how much time you get off, how much you’ll earn, when you’ll first receive your bonus, how many days holiday you’ll get. They make you look like you’re in it for the money and not bothered about the job itself.
This post first appeared on Passive Candidates: The Insiders Guide, please read the originial post: here
