Questions To Ask An Interviewer
Preparing for an interview is nerve-wracking, but there’s one crucial thing to remember going into it to help you calm down and stay focused.
You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
So, of all the things an interviewer can ask, the most important is, “Do you have any questions?” The answer is, yes, of course you do!
If these questions weren’t answered during the course of your interview organically, make sure you ask them at the end. This is an excellent opportunity to show that you’re present, think ahead, and aren’t desperate for a job. You will show you’re a high-value candidate looking to invest in their company.
Instead of wondering how well you did, the real question you should be asking by the end of the interview is whether you want to work there.
Here are seven key areas you need to cover to help you decide.
1. Questions about the job
Asking these types of questions will give you information on the expectations of the position. More importantly, it will provide you with a clue about the company’s current state, culture, and role.
What is the structure of a typical day?
What are the most immediate projects that require attention?
What skills and experiences are you looking for in an ideal candidate?
2. Training/Professional Development
To help expedite your career growth, you want to make sure the company has a structure that supports your advancement with a history of promoting from within. Be careful to come off as if the job is just a stepping stone for you, that could be a turnoff. Focus more on growth than advancement.
How will I be onboarded?
Are there opportunities for professional development?
3. Performance and Evaluations
One of the biggest reasons people suffer from imposter syndrome at work is that they have no idea of their job expectations.
When you know better, you do better.
-Maya Angelou
Asking for feedback is an essential step in your career growth. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to showcase how amazing you are, not highlight your flaws. When asking for direction, talk about all the amazing things you’re doing and then ask about what more you can do. You’re not asking to be corrected, you’re asking to be challenged.
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 metrics or goals will be used to evaluate my performance?
4. The Interviewer
Get the interviewer talking! This will give them a chance to let their guard down and give you the inside scoop. If you get a conversation going, you may get more information on all of these areas.
How long have you been with the company?
Has your role changed since you’ve been here?
What do you enjoy the most about working here? (This may trigger them to talk about what they don’t enjoy, but never ask them that directly.)
5. Company/Culture
If there is no vision for the company, there will be no vision for you and your position. The culture of the company is an indicator of its steadiness. If there are high turnover rates among staff, it could be a sign that there’s something off.
What were the significant accomplishments of the person I’m replacing?
Where do you see this company in the next few years?
How would you describe the company culture?
How would you describe the work environment here—is the work typically collaborative or more independent?
6. Team
You want to get as much information as possible about the people you’re working with day-to-day or managing.
Can you tell me about the team?
Who will I work with most closely?
Who will be my immediate supervisor/team?
7. Next Steps
If you want to minimize obsessively checking your email for the next few days, use these questions to clarify what happens next.
Is there anything that concerns you about my background being a fit for this role?
What are the next steps in the interview process?
What’s your ideal start date for this position?
