Having prepared some questions to ask in an interview will definitely make your life easier. The last thing you want is to stumble and the last hurdle when the hiring manager asks, “Do you have any questions for me?”
Remember an interview isn’t just a chance for the interviewer to grill you—it’s your opportunity to decide whether a position would be as great for you as you would be for the position. So it’s vital to have a few good questions to ask in an interview as a candidate.
To get you thinking, we’ve put together a list of the best questions to ask in an interview. Don’t’ use this as a be all and end all, this is just a starting point, some of this stuff will be covered during the course of your discussion and different questions are relevant to different companies/positions.
Firstly,
Top tips for asking an employer questions in a job interview
· Don’t say you have no questions. You probably already know that whether you’re stressed or relaxed, whether you think you’ve fumbled the conversation badly or you’ve got this job in the bag, the worst thing you could say is, “Nope, I’m good.”
· Be flexible, don’t be afraid to deviate from the list if your questions have already been answered or if you think others will be more appropriate.
· Ask at least a few conversation related questions. Show you’re invested and you’ve been paying attention throughout the interview process by customising your questions to the specific position and company
· Don’t just ask questions at the end. Interviews work best when they’re a conversation, so don’t be afraid to pose questions when it makes sense throughout the conversation.
· Ask questions you really want to know the answers to. Don’t only ask questions you think will impress your interviewer. With a few exceptions (which we’ll cover) this is your chance to ask about the topics you’re really curious about—and will affect whether you even want the job. Maybe a project that really excited you when you read the job description hasn’t come up during the interview. Perhaps it’s not clear to you what the job actually entails, and you want to ask what a typical day looks like.
Here are some examples of questions to ask:
1. Can you show me examples of projects I’d be working on?
2. What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?
3. What learning and professional development opportunities are available to your employees?
4. What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?
5. Why did you come to this company?
6. What’s your favourite part about working here?
7. What’s one challenge you occasionally or regularly face in your job?
8. What direction do you see this company heading in over the next few years?
9. What gets you most excited about the company’s future?
10. Who will I work with most closely?
11. Who will I report to directly?
Questions NOT to ask!
Just as important as knowing what questions to ask in an interview is knowing what to avoid. While you want to make sure you have all the info you’d need before taking a job, some questions are better asked after you’ve gotten an offer, or once you have started the role, and maybe not on your first day!
When does my PTO kick in?
Just how much is the monthly childcare allowance?
When do I start? – Too cocky!