· Your opportunity to ask these questions typically comes at the end of the interview. It’s a chance to learn more about the company culture, the challenges and opportunities the organization is facing, and what being in this job is really like.
· Come to your interview with your questions prepared. Beforehand, practice asking at least three questions that demonstrate you’ve thought seriously about what it would be like to do this job. Here are a few examples of questions you might ask:
· Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities this job entails?
· This is a good question to ask the hiring manager. The answer will be important for you to take into consideration as you determine whether or not this job is the right fit for you.
· What are the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?
· Ask this question to the hiring manager or others on the interview panel who you might work with if you accept the job. Their answers will quickly give you an idea of the qualities they hope to see in the person they hire.
· What’s the most important thing I could do to help within the first 90 days of employment?
· With this question, you’re showcasing your desire and ability to contribute from day one. It’s a good one to ask of the hiring manager.
· What are some of the challenges you’ve seen people in this role or on this team encounter?
· During your interviews, you want to get a clear-eyed view of what this job is like — why it’s hard and rewarding at the same time. Getting your interviewers’ perspectives on potential hurdles will give you a holistic picture.
· If I were in this job, how would my performance be measured?
· In your interview with the hiring manager, ask this question to get more specific about how you can succeed in this job. The answer to this question will be helpful to you even if you don’t get the job — you may be able to use the insights they share to identify new areas of professional development.
· What does the career path for someone in this role look like?
· Another one for the hiring manager. This question can signal your interest in growing at this company.
· What other functions or departments does this team work with most often? What are the characteristics of a successful collaboration?
· This is an important question if the company you’re interviewing with is a large or mid-sized business. Knowing how to collaborate will be a crucial part of your ability to do the job.
· What does your job look like day-to-day and how would you anticipate working with the person in this role?
· This is a good one for your prospective colleagues but can also work for the hiring manager. Their answers will give you a sense of their priorities.
· In addition to those questions about the specific job, you can leverage the research you’ve done beforehand to ask questions that showcase your interest in the company and industry.
Here are some examples:-
1. What do you like best about working here?
2. Who do you see as your biggest competitor and why?
3. What challenges has this company faced in the last few years? What challenges do you anticipate in coming years?
4. What changes or innovations in the industry are you most excited about?
You can formulate next-level questions by asking about something that stems from what you read about the company in the news or on social media.
For example:-
“I noticed on your social media channels that you’ve opened several new offices lately. That kind of growth is exciting to me. It made me wonder what lines of the business are part of that expansion?”
“I came across an interview with your CEO where she touched on several aspects of the company culture. What elements of the culture here do you like best?”
If you don’t have questions at the ready, you could come across as unprepared or disinterested. As part of your interview prep, set aside time to practice your questions so that your enthusiasm for the job is clear. Write down your questions and bring them with you to the interview.
