7 questions you should be asking in an interview.
An interview isn’t just about the employer finding out about you. It’s also the ideal opportunity for you to find out whether the organisation would be a good fit for you as well. How do you do that? Well, you make sure you ask the right questions.
We all know that the run-up to an interview can be daunting. The intensive research about the company, finding every possible answer for any question that may come up.
What we often forget is the questions we should be asking the employer. So, we thought we’d come up with a few questions that you could prepare to help you get the information you need and make a good impression.
1. What would my day-to-day role look like?
This allows an open conversation to take place where the hiring manager can go into detail about what you will be doing on a typical day. This is then an opportunity to highlight anything that you may be unsure about regarding the role. Asking this sort of question can eradicate any false expectations if you are to receive the job offer.
2. What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect of this role?
Asking a question like this shows awareness, that you anticipate possible challenges but importantly, it shows that you are prepared to tackle them without hesitation. After all, the most challenging parts of a job are often the most exciting!
3. What is your favourite thing about working for the company?
At this point, you’re giving the employer a chance to show off the company, it is also a great time to build rapport. You are showing personal interest in the employer and this can be a really great feature to help you stand out from the other interviewees. Typically the employer will open up their job experience and therefore give you a real insight into what it is like to work within that organization.
4. Will there be an opportunity for progression?
This will show the employer that you are ambitious and want to succeed, another great quality as a valuable candidate. Asking a question like this will also give the impression that you are willing to invest in the company and that you intend to stay there. No one likes to be stuck in one position, let this be the time you find out.
5. Can you tell me a little bit about the company culture?
Similar to question 2 above, this allows you to gauge whether you are a right fit for the organization as well as making sure you will be comfortable where you work. This can really make or break a job role and you want to ensure that you enjoy where you are working and to be choosing a placement that will suit your lifestyle and personality. This question will show the company that you want to build and form relationships with your colleagues.
6. Where do you see the company in 3 years’ time?
From this, you can find out the vision of the company and even how you could contribute to it if you were to get the role. When you know the goal, you can show your enthusiasm for working for the company and maybe even suggest some ideas on how to get there. This also demonstrates your intention of having a long-term career with the company.
7. What will be the next steps of the process?
Several companies can take a while to get back to you, so asking this question can give you a more defined time frame of when you will get a job offer or invited for a second interview. This is also a good question to close off the interview.
Asking the employer questions can always be difficult, but interviewing is a two-way street, so we wanted to make it easier for you! We would also suggest that you take in a pen and notebook with you to an interview to write anything down that you may have found interesting or concerning. You can also write these questions in your notebook ready to ask!
Good luck!