Congratulations, you have a job interview. Now what?
Job interviews, whether your very first one or your 100th are nerve-wracking experiences. You want to give your best impression to a prospective employer. If you didn’t want the job, you would not have applied. Before going to the interview prepare by researching the company, visit their website, and social media pages.
At the end of every job interview, the interviewer(s) will ask if you have any questions. You are expected to ask a few good questions. This demonstrates to the employer that you are interested in and you care about the job. Asking questions helps you to know if you like the company and will be a good fit. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask the interviewer good thought proving questions.
10 Sample Questions:
- Have I answered all your questions?
By asking this, it allows the interviewer to circle back if you got sidetracked and they need clarification on any of their questions.
- Who do you think would be the ideal candidate for this position, and how do I compare?
This question allows you to measure if the company does not match up to what you are looking for. You do not want to waste time pursuing the wrong position. I had the experience where I applied for a job and was called in for an interview. In the interview, I was told I was overqualified for the position I applied for, what happened next surprised me. The company recognized that I had a skill set they needed for their strategic plan. They discussed the future role they wanted my skillset for and how they would create a job for me to have me on staff so that I would already be integrated with the company when they were ready. The benefit to this discussion allowed me to evaluate if I wanted to spend some time being bored, knowing that in a few months’ time I would then be given the responsibilities that would benefit them the most and challenge me.
- How would you describe the company’s culture?
- What is your favorite thing about working for this company?
You can get some great stories and learn from the people who have been there about why they have stayed for x number of years.
- How do you see the person in this role contributing to the vision?
- What are the biggest challenges the company faces right now and how are they being addressed?
- What makes people stay with this company?
- Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
- Beyond the technical skills required to succeed in this role, what soft skills do you think will serve the position best?
- What is your timeline and what are the next steps?
If your questions were answered during the course of the interview, talk about what you had planned to ask and that you already were provided the answers. Wait to ask about salary or benefits until you are in the negations portion of the process with an HR Representative.
Be confident, be yourself, and try your best to relax in the interview. Technical skills can be taught, the interviewers are really trying to gauge if you are a good fit for them and likewise you too are evaluating if you will fit in with them. Having good questions will assist you to make a good decision.
By Cheryl Viola, Executive Director, MBA
References
Gillett, R., Cain, Á., & Hadden, J. (2020, June 17). The best questions to ask at the end of every job interview. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/questions-to-ask-at-end-of-job-interview-2016-4
Indeed Career Guide. (2020, November 23). 39 of the best questions to ask at the end of an interview. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/good-questions-to-ask-at-the-end-of-an-interview