Questions to Ask in Your Next Job Interview
When job searching, it can be easy to forget that a job interview is not meant to be one-directional. Your interviewer is probably waiting for you to ask some thoughtful questions! Not only is asking questions a great way to find out if the company values and work style align with your own, but it’s also a chance to show that you did your research and that you take the interview seriously. Don’t be afraid to pull out your notebook and read from a list of prepared, thoughtful questions. You can also listen actively and weave your questions into the conversation with the interviewer. Here are some suggestions on where to start:
Questions about the Employer:
- “What does success look like in this position and on this team?”
- “How would you describe the culture here? What type of employee tends to thrive here?”
- “Can you tell me more about the team I will be working with? What role do they play within the whole organization?”
- “What are some of the biggest challenges in this role?”
- “What is the typical career path or opportunity for growth for someone in this role?”
- “What are you hoping your new hire accomplishes in the next 6 months? The next year?”
Questions about the interviewer- they are a valuable resource!
- “How has the company evolved since you started working here?”
- “What do you like most about working here?”
- “If you could only give one piece of advice to the incoming employee, what would that advice be?”
Adapt these questions to fit the company you are interviewing with (and remember to send a thank you email after the interview). Employers want to hire someone who will enjoy the job, care about the company, and hopefully picture themselves building a career with the company. You can also mine the interviewers’ responses to your questions for valuable information. If they would be your direct supervisor, do they have clear goals for the team and a communication style that makes you feel welcome and excited? No matter how long you have been searching, saying yes to a job is a huge decision, and you want to be as informed as possible when taking that next step in your career. Good luck!
