What Questions Should I Ask During an Interview?
Remember the interview process is a two way communication. You have a decision to make about the position and whether you want to take it.
It is useful to have prepared some questions that you might ask at the interview. Often this is left to the end of the interview after the interviewer has asked his/her questions. Try to get the balance right by asking questions that show your interest in the company, and are not so simple that you could have answered them yourself with some simple research.
Some example questions you could ask:
The role
• Why is this position vacant?
• What are the short term objectives for the role and some of the longer term ones?
• What kind of support is in place in terms of people and budget?
• Who will be my manager?
• What do you think the challenges will be for me in this job?
• Can you describe the team that I will be working in?
• What induction/training will I receive?
• Will I be able to visit the department I’d be working in?
• What opportunities are there for progression?
• How and when will my performance be appraised?
The organisation
• What significant challenges do you see for the organisation in the near future?
• What is the performance appraisal process?
• What are the most critical factors of success in your business?
• Where do you see the company going in the next few years?
• What are the most important traits you look for in your employees?
• What are the key values of the organisation?
Sometimes interviewers give away so much information about the company that the candidate has no questions left to ask. It is still best practice to ask at least one question so you might say something like:
I was interested when you mentioned X earlier about the company – could you tell me a little bit more about that please?
3 or 4 questions would normally be enough to ask and when you are asking your questions you should bear in mind the time. Do not ask so many questions that you take up too much of the interviewers time as they are likely to be running another interview after yours.
If you are interested in career advice and guidance, contact Career Analysts.