Often, candidates may feel that job interviews are like interrogations. Well, they shouldn’t. An ideal job interview is one where questions are asked by both parties, not just the employer or HR personnel alone.
Naturally, the employer will ask questions to get to know you better and get a feel of your personality and behavior. It’s ideal that as a candidate, you also ask the employer or interviewer a few questions in return. Doing so lets you learn more about the position and the company to make sure that the role is right for you.
The opportunity to ask the interviewer some questions typically comes at the end of your job interview. It’s a must that you prepare at least two questions, as this will show you are interested in the position and the company. Furthermore, asking questions also shows that you did your homework and researched the company prior to your meeting.
It’s important that you ask the right questions so you can get the most out of the chance to ask them. Here are some questions you can ask at the end of your interview:
1. What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
Sure, the job ad will have already enumerated the basic and general requirements of the role, and the interviewer may also discuss them during the interview. However, it will also help to know what you may look forward to on a daily basis. You need to know what tasks will you handle regularly and who you will work with, for instance.
2. What do you say are the company’s values? What qualities do you expect from employees in order to showcase those values?
Asking this will help you learn more about the company culture and see whether it fits your own culture and values. You will also have a glimpse of what the company values and prioritizes. Are they big on work-life balance? Do they value community development?
3. What’s the best part of working here, in your opinion?
Don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer about what they think is the best part of working at the company. If the interviewer is able to answer your question with enthusiasm, you may take it as a good sign.
4. How is success measured in this position?
It’s necessary to have an idea of how the company measures success, particularly on the role you’re applying for. Your idea of success may be different from the company’s. You need to understand the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the role so you’d know what to expect. It will also help to know how often performance evaluations are done.
5. What are the opportunities for development?
Asking this question will show the interviewer that you are hoping to grow in and with the company. At the same time, this will also help you determine whether the company can pave the way toward your career goals.
6. Who will I work closely with?
This question lets you see the dynamics in the company. Are you going to work with a team or are you going to be a one-man team? Who will supervise you and who will you consult for guidance?
7. What is the most challenging part of the role?
Knowing the negative side of the role is as important as knowing the positive side. You want to get a sense of the issues that you may encounter in the future so you can prepare yourself and decide whether it’s the kind of problems you can handle.
8. Is there any part of my background that makes you think twice about hiring me?
If the interviewer has not discussed their reservations during the interview, you can ask this to show that you really want to get the job and that you’re willing to clarify or respond to their concerns.
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Photo by Maranda Vandergriff on Unsplash
