Pretty much every interview includes a part where the person being interviewed is given a chance to ask any questions they might have about the job or the company.
There are two main reasons why you should come to an interview with good questions for your interviewer. First, good questions show your interviewer you can perform research and develop insights. Second, asking questions allows you to determine if you really do want to work for this company; because every job interview should be a two-way street where the company and candidate find out if this is a good match.
When developing questions for your interviewer, it’s important to come up with at least four, because one or two of your questions might get answered in the course of the interview. Below are a few suggestions on questions you should ask in your next interview.
What’s the best part about the work environment here?
You don’t want to end up working for a company where you are miserable, and a solid approach to getting a sense of the work environment is to ask the interviewer. In addition to learning about the company’s culture, this question allows the interviewer to talk about themselves and the people they work with.
Talking about work culture can also give you a sense of the expectations for your own performance in the job. For example, if your interviewer starts talking about a fast-paced environment where everybody pulls together to achieve success, you can expect a structured, demanding atmosphere. On the other hand, if your interviewer talks about a laid-back collegial environment, you know that management takes a more hands-off approach.
Where do you see this company in 5 or 10 years?
This question provides you with an idea of how secure your career might be and if the job is in line with your long-term career goals. You don’t want to take a job that might be downsized in a year and you don’t want one that won’t benefit your career in the long-term.
Conversely, you do want to hear your interviewer talk about plans for expansion, a big potential contract or the opening of a big new facility.
Trying to find out where the business is going, in the long run, allows you to plan your own strategy in terms of this particular opportunity and how it might fit into your plans for the future.
How did this position open up?
This is a subtle way of saying – “What happened to the last guy?”
If the job opened up because someone was fired or quit after two months, that’s good information to have, and it could indicate you need to meet expectations, or else.
On the other hand, if the position is newly created, it’s an indication the workload is ramping up and the company is expanding – both of which are very good signs.
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At SSi People , we know the interview process can be challenging and help job seekers navigate it every day. Please contact us to find out how we can help with your next job search.
