Interviews can go in any direction. Use these questions to steer your interview into a more promising direction. The best interviews will take the form of a conversation instead of one-sided questioning. When the candidate is aware of this, they will come prepared with questions to ask back that will turn a drilling of questions into a flowing conversation that is more enjoyable for both parties.
Job candidates should be just as concerned about choosing the best company for their needs as the company is about choosing the best candidate for their company. Companies are looking for candidates that will fit their needs and workplace culture but candidates are also looking for companies that fit their needs. If a candidate is not able to get answers to their questions, they will not be able to determine if the company is the right place for them.
Asking the right questions is also another way to demonstrate your qualifications for the position. Employers want employees who are committed and invested. By asking good questions, a candidate can show their insight into the position and the company’s needs.
If your interview does not flow so that you can get any questions in until the end, it is still a good time to ask your questions. Don’t be afraid of having too many, as long as they are good ones that weren’t already answered during the interview, job description, on the company website, or elsewhere. These questions should be insightful and center on experiences you couldn’t simply glean from reading their website.
Have you ever been at that awkward moment near the end of an interview when you aren’t sure if you should keep the conversation going or start saying the good-byes? Ending the interview with a positive question is the best way to tackle this awkward moment and make the interview a memorable one for the interviewer.
A good positive question would involve asking the interviewer about their best moments at the company. While it may seem cheesy or like a cop-out, it gets the interviewer to focus on something they value at their job while, possibly, placing a positive association of you in their memory of the interview. Should the interviewer not be able to come up with a happy experience, you may want to rethink working at the company.
A good positive question would involve asking the interviewer about their best moments at the company. While it may seem cheesy or like a cop-out, it gets the interviewer to focus on something they value at their job while, possibly, placing a positive association of you in their memory of the interview. Should the interviewer not be able to come up with a happy experience, you may want to rethink working at the company.
The following are examples of 8 strong questions you should ask and the kind of important information you will receive by asking them:
How do you define success for this job?
This question can give you better insight into this position and what they are hoping to get out of it in a new employee. While a job description gives a broad expectation of the job and basic responsibilities, learning firsthand what the company wants from someone in the position is beneficial.
What is the largest problem facing your staff? Will I be in a position where I can help solve the problem?
Asking a question like this will help you understand what you can expect upon being hired. It shows the interviewer that you are already thinking about how you can help solve problems for the company. You want the interviewer to be confident that you will be a valuable addition to the team.
Is there any professional training or continuing education offered?
If this question is not covered during the interview or on their website, it is a good question to ask so you can learn if there are opportunities to pick up more knowledge and continue growth within the company.
Can I have a quick tour? Can I meet some of the people I would be working with?
Anyway of getting out of the interview room and into the actual workplace will not only give you a better way of determining if you want to work there but it allows the interviewer to see how well you interact with the team.
What is your favorite thing on a daily basis about working here?
Candidates are not the only ones trying to impress by only sharing their positive features. Companies discuss and brag about what they consider to be their best features. Asking this question makes the interviewer get more real about what they like about work on an everyday basis. You already know about all the company perks and benefits, but sometimes the smaller things are what make a company truly enjoyable to work for.
What skills and experience would make an ideal candidate?
Get down to exactly what the interviewer is looking for in their ideal candidate. Once you know what they want, you will be able to cater the skills and experiences you have that match and then explain how you can make up for the missing desired traits.
Is there anything that makes you think I would not be a good fit for this position?
This question gives you one last opportunity to right any misconceptions they developed during the interview and set things straight. Every candidate will have flaws. Understanding what they consider your flaws to be gives you the chance to talk them up and know what you need to work on if you don’t get the job.
What is the next step in the process?
This is the perfect last question to ask to wrap up the interview. It shows you are interested and want to keep the processes moving along. The interviewer may provide details on how many interviews they still have to hold, giving you the sense of a timeframe.
Now that you have examples of questions to ask, tailor them to be more specific to the company and the job. Aim to have three to five prepared, assuming that a couple will get answered during the interview. Asking three questions is a safe amount to show your sincere interest in the position and company while not turning into too long of an interview.
