So you have secured an interview, you did your research and you are now prepared for your big day. But have you prepared any questions to ask the interviewer?
Interviews are no longer the one way street they used to be. Nowadays, it is expected that the candidate will have some questions of their own to ask during an interview. In fact, the candidate should have an equal level playing field in driving the conversation of the interview to ensure no stone is left unturned and both candidate and interviewer are convinced there is a job match and fit.
Not asking questions could be interview suicide and on the flip side, asking the wrong questions could be just as bad.
Ensuring you prepare some relevant and appropriate questions to ask during a job interview will not leave you fumbling and scrambling to construct a question, but can also set you apart from other candidates.
As stated in a recent article, “A survey from Adecco reports that it is especially an issue for younger job seekers with 60% of hiring managers saying that one of the biggest mistakes candidates makes during the interview process is showing a lack of interest in a job by not asking questions about the company or position. Mature workers were more likely to be ready with a list of questions. Regardless of how old or how experienced you are, in addition to reviewing the list of questions you will be asked during a job interview, it’s important to have your own list of questions to ask.”
So in saying this, it is important you take notes during your company research and write down any gaps you have regarding the company/role and ensure your formulate questions around what you want to know about the job and your prospective employer. Going above and beyond this, ensure you type out your questions and go over them with someone else, to ensure they are clear and make sense to another person.
And don’t forget, there are also some questions you shouldn’t ask during a job interview.
Interview Questions you can ask your interviewer:
- How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?
- How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?
- Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous employee go on to do?
- What is the company’s management style?
- Who does this position report to? Is there an opportunity to meet him/her?
- How many people work in this office/department?
- Is there an opportunity to meet the direct team?
- How much travel is expected and where would the key destinations be?
- What would be the top priority outcome for this role?
- Can you explain what arrangements/structure you have to support work/life balance?
- What are the prospects for growth and advancement?
- How does one advance in the company? Are there any examples?
- What do you like about working here?
- What don’t you like about working here and what would you change?
- Would you like a list of references?
- If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start?
- What can I tell you about my qualifications?
- When can I expect to hear from you?
- Are there any other questions I can answer for you?
Interview Questions NOT to Ask your interviewer:
- What does this company do? (Research, research, research)
- If I get the job when can I take time off for vacation? (If you have pre-booked vacation, let them know, if not…wait until you are in the job before you start planning your next getaway)
- Can I change my schedule if I get the job? (If you need to alter the logistics of your role, this should be something you discuss prior to an interview or even in a cover letter)
- When can I start? (This is just cheesy and will come off more pompous than confident)
The key thing to remember is that you need to show you have thought about the role beyond it being just a ‘paid job’. Employers want to know that you have taken the time to ensure you are a good fit for the business but also demonstrate that you can show insight into what the role is, how you can fit, what you can offer and what problems you can solve. And you can demonstrate all this through some carefully formulated questions.
Contact the team at WER today to get assistance with developing some interview questions or any other career service.