Asking questions at a job interview can sometimes be as important as how you have answered the questions asked of you. Turning up unprepared without any can show a lack of preparation and worse a lack of interest in the position. It is a great opportunity for you to not only gain knowledge that may not have already been covered during the interview but also to further open up the conversation flow between you and your interviewer (most commonly your potential future employer).
An interview should also be a two-way street, however, unless you are prompted to wait until the end to ask your questions. As always do your research on the company prior to the interview and use this to tailor the questions you are asking, you want to avoid asking any obvious questions that are already covered on the job specification or the company website.
Example questions to ask at a job interview:
1.Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
This is your chance to learn as much as possible about the role so you can decide whether this is a job you really want. By learning more about the day-to-day tasks, you will also gain more insight into what specific skills and strengths are needed and you can address any topics that haven’t already been covered.
2.What would my first 30, 60, 90 days in the company look like?
How you do your job is also equally important…and what they expect from you as you do it! The best way to meet the goals of your employer is to know up front what they are. What do they expect from someone who is hired for this position? How do they evaluate that performance? Are there reviews?
3.What have you enjoyed most about working here?
This allows the interviewer to connect with you on a more personal level, sharing his or her feelings. The answer will also give you unique insight into how satisfied people are with their jobs there.
4.What are the biggest challenges facing the company/department right now?
This question can help you uncover trends and issues in the industry and perhaps identify areas where your skills could save the day.
5.What is the typical career path for someone in this role?
This can help you learn whether the company promotes from within, and how career advancement works within the organisation. By asking the question, you show your interest in growing with the organisation — just be careful not to phrase it in a way that sounds too self-serving (i.e. When can I expect a raise and a promotion?).
6.What are the next steps in the interview process?
This shows that you are eager to move forward in the process. It will also help you gain important information about the timeline for hiring so that you can follow up appropriately.
All of the above questions are just examples of what you could ask, the important things to remember are keep the questions relevant to the role, avoid asking negative questions and be prepared – do not wing it!
Let FPSG help you meet your recruitment goals by contacting us on 0870 050 0525 or hello@fpsg.com
Author: Stuart Aird
