Today’s the big day. You’ve finally landed an interview for the perfect role at your dream company. Naturally, you couldn’t have come better prepared or more determined to succeed.
The interview itself goes swimmingly. You’re pretty sure you’ve managed to achieve an easy rapport with your interviewer and you deliver insightful and thoughtful responses to all of the standard interview questions.
What about that obscure, curveball question that was specifically designed to throw you off guard? Yep, you even knocked that one out of the park.
It’s all looking good, until…
Interviewer: Well, I think that’s just about everything we need from you. But before we finish up, do you have any questions for us?
You: Oh… umm… yes! Absolutely. I was just wondering whether… Ummm… what I mean to say is…when… should I expect to hear back from you?
*facepalm*
To ensure that you end a potentially career-changing interview on a high, you’ll need to come ready with some intelligent questions. Remember that this will make a good impression, but it’s also an important opportunity for you to learn more about the company and establish if it’s the right fit for you.
These 10 questions will get you off to a good start.
1. What training programs or professional development opportunities will be available to me in this role?
This question showcases your motivation to continually advance in your career and develop your skillset. Employers typically pour a great deal of time and money into their recruitment processes, so an interviewer(s) will be pleased to learn that you’re ambitious and, ultimately, a worthy investment.
As an employee, it’s valuable to know if a role is likely to stifle or aid your career progression. If the company has limited resources available for professional development purposes, this may only be a short-term role or one you choose to bypass altogether.
2. What expectations do you have in my first weeks and months at the company?
Alarm bells should immediately ring if your interviewer(s) can’t clearly communicate the scope of the role. This could mean that the company is still shaping the position and figuring out what they want from their new recruit. The worst-case scenario is you end up accepting a role and finding the job description is vastly different from the reality.
Asking this question demonstrates your healthy and enthusiastic approach to work – if you do get the role, you’re ready to dive straight in and deliver.
3. What’s your favorite thing about working here?
This question will give a unique insight into the experiences of existing employees at the company, proving to be particularly enlightening if you’re being interviewed by a panel. If you discover that you value the same things as your interviewers, it’s a good sign you’ll be happy to spend 40+ hours a week at this company.
4. How will you measure my successes?
Job descriptions are all too often vague, out of date, misleading, or detail way too many responsibilities. This question highlights your commitment to success and serves to tease out the employer’s priorities for the role. It lets you know what success looks like, from their perspective, and where you should first direct your focus to ensure you impress your new manager.
5. What has the turnover been like in this role to date?
This might seem like a controversial subject to bring up in an interview but it’s something you have every right to know the answer to. Your interviewer(s) ought to respect your desire to find a secure and stable role.
If you discover that the turnover rate is unusually high, expect some kind of explanation from your interviewer. It may well be an issue that is easily resolved, such as unsatisfactory compensation. On the other hand, it may indicate a difficult-to-work-with manager.
6. How would you describe the company’s culture?
Much like the question on what your interviewer(s) enjoy about their roles, this is a chance to weigh whether the company’s culture aligns well with your values and priorities. Be sure to consider what you most value in a workplace, whether it’s a formal hierarchical structure, flexible working, or a friendly and social environment. The answer to this question might indicate the extent to which the company values employee happiness.
7. What challenges do you expect me to face in this role?
Almost every interviewer will ask you some variation on the question “Can you describe a time when you overcame a major challenge in your current role?” But you’ll rarely find the top challenges associated with a role listed in a job description, and it’s equally unlikely that your interviewer(s) will bring them up — unless, of course, you ask. Asking this question displays your determination to manage difficult situations head-on. Plus, it’s useful to know of any constraints that might impact your performance.
8. Is there anything making you doubt my ability to do this role?
Anyone who’s ever been rejected following a job interview knows how difficult it can be to get feedback on why they weren’t right for the role. While you have a captive audience, you may as well put your interviewer(s) on the spot and ask for that feedback. This takes courage, but having the chance to challenge any concerns about your eligibility might just be the difference between you landing the role or not.
9. I read an article in the news about your company doing “X”; how will this impact “Y”?
If you haven’t had a chance to do so during the interview, this question provides the perfect opportunity for you to show off all the background research you completed, highlighting your genuine interest in the company and its wider goals and motivations.
10. What happens next in the recruitment process?
This shouldn’t be the first — or only — question you ask during a job interview, but it’s important to know where you stand and it confirms to your interviewer(s) that you are still interested in the role. If you’re currently sitting on other job offers, you’ll need to know the timeline this company is working towards.