Get Interview Success: Essential Questions to ask before saying Goodbye!

Interviews can be a nerve-wracking process so making sure you’re prepared is a must. As your interview comes to a close, you may be asked “Do you have any questions for us?”. The answer to this should always be “yes”. There are many different types of questions you can ask the interviewer – remember, an interview is a two-way conversation. An interview is, of course, a way for the interviewer to see if you’re a good fit for a role, but it’s also a way for you to see if the company is a good fit for you.

Questions about the Role

The first type of question you can ask is about the role itself. You may have read over the job description and got an idea of the responsibilities involved however asking further questions will give you an idea of whether the role is suitable for you. This also shows the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in the role.

Questions to ask about the role could include:

1. What does a typical day or week look like in this role?
2. What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed?
3. What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?
4. What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?
5. What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
6. What does your onboarding process look like?

Questions about Development and Opportunities

Perhaps you are looking for a role that allows you to learn and develop on the job and provides you with plenty of opportunities to do so. We strongly suggest researching your potential employer before the interview to make sure that you’re joining a company and a role that will support your development, but some good questions to determine this are:

1. What learning and professional development opportunities are available to your employees?
2. Are there opportunities for advancement within the company?
3. Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed too?
4. I am keen to develop my career in (said way), would this be something I can do at the company?

Questions about the Team

Something that people often forget to ask about in an interview is the team that the role sits in. Asking about team structure and what plans are for the near future for the team can help you decide on whether it’s somewhere you’d like to work. It also again shows the interviewer that you have an interest in the bigger picture rather than just the role itself.

If you want to find out more about the team structure and dynamic, try asking:

1. Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
2. Who will I work with most closely?
3. Who will I report to directly?
4. What are the team’s biggest strengths and challenges?
5. Do you expect to hire more people in this department in the next six months?
6. Which other departments work most closely with this one and how?

Questions about the Interviewer

Another effective way to find out whether the job is right for you is by asking the interview about their experiences working in the company. These types of questions might catch the interviewer off guard but by doing so, you are more likely to get an authentic answer, rather than one that has been rehearsed. This again also shows that you are a genuine candidate who has a genuine interest.

Here are some options:

1. How long have you been with the company?
2. How has your role changed since you’ve been here?
3. Why did you come to this company?
4. What’s your favourite part about working here?
5. What’s one challenge you occasionally or regularly face in your job?
6. What part of your job are you most excited about over the next few months?

Questions about the Company

You’ve asked about the role, the team and what it’s like working at the company but you want to show off a bit with some questions off the back of some research. Showing the interviewer that you have not only researched the role but have looked into the company itself demonstrates you have a clear interest in the role and have taken some initiative Some ideas to start with include:

1. I’ve read about the company’s founding, but can you tell me more about [another significant company development]?
2. What direction do you see this company heading in over the next few years?
3. What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?
4. What are the current goals that the company is focused on, and how does this team work to support hitting those goals?
5. What are the company’s most important values? (Note: Do some research beforehand to ensure these can’t be easily found online)

Questions about the Culture

Company culture is a seriously undervalued aspect of any job. It is an especially important subject to talk about in an interview. This could be your dream role, and the company itself could sound great, however, if the culture doesn’t suit you, you’re not going to enjoy working there. To discover what the company culture is like and whether you would be a good fit, try asking some of the following questions:

1. How would you describe the work environment here – is the work typically more collaborative or more independent?
2. How does the team form and maintain strong bonds?
3. What’s your favourite office tradition?
4. What’s different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked?
5. How has the company changed since you joined?

Questions to Conclude

Finally, you want a question or two to neatly conclude the interview. An interview is such an important character defining moment, you don’t want to end with “so yeah, that’s it” or anything anti-climactic. You always want to start well and end well. The best way to wrap everything up is with a finishing question. Some examples include:

1. What are the next steps in the interview process?
2. Is there anything else I can provide?
3. Can I answer any final questions for you?

Preparing thoughtful questions for your interviewer isn’t just about impressing them; it’s about making sure this role is the perfect fit for you. By asking about the responsibilities, team dynamics, company culture, and growth opportunities, you can gain deeper insights into the day-to-day experience and determine if this is a place where you’ll thrive. Remember, the interview is a two-way conversation, and wrapping it up with meaningful questions shows that you’re engaged and genuinely interested.

Asking questions is just as important as answering them. Take charge of your interview, and let your questions lead the way to the right career choice.