What Questions or Question To Ask In An Interview?

You woke up today to a call for interview. Amazing! After a few days of searching for job opportunities nearby and sending applications online, you finally got a call – an interview invitation per se. So, how do you feel about it? You are a step closer to landing in your new job!

“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” ― Chris Grosser Click To Tweet

Like anything, if not everything, in life though, there are no shortcuts. You have to break a leg during your interview. You have to make sure you give the right answers to every question thrown at you. Questions like what are your strengths and weaknesses? How will you be an asset to the company? Can you easily adapt to change? What are your career goals? How do you intend to work in the company? All these and more.

The goal is to get that job no matter how grueling or nerve-wracking the interview may get. Now here’s the catch, don’t you know that you can ask questions too? Yes! Like the recruiter, you can also ask questions for you to be able to get to know more about the company, the position, the team you will be working with if given the chance, etc.

To help you with it, here is a list of questions that you can ask interviewer:

1.    What does a typical day look like in this company?

This is an important question to ask in an interview. This allows you to get an idea how people in the company work on a day-to-day basis.

2.    What are the challenges of the previous handling thin position encountered?

This is another important question to ask in an interview. By asking this, you get a glimpse of what your future job will be like. It will also help you think of strategies on dealing with the job once you are hired.

3.    Are there any immediate projects that need to be addressed?

This question gives an impression to the interviewer of how interested you are for the job. It gives them an idea how eager you are for the job, to help the company progress.

4.    Is there a budget that I will be working on? If so, would you mind sharing it with me?

This questions intends to know how much money will the company entrust to you. It will give you an idea on how to work around with it. Also, by knowing how much budget there is, you get to know how generous the company can be. At the same time, how much are they willing to spend to get the job done. It will also give you an idea on the stability of the company.

5.    Would there be a chance that the responsibilities in this position will change in the next six months?

This is another question to ask in an interview. It is important to know if there will be changes as you go along. Apart from making sure you can still do the job, it will also help you decide if you will still pursue your application or not.

6.    What are the company’s expectations from me?

While the company needs to know your expectations from them, it is also right that you ask their expectations from you so you get an idea if they are achievable. After all, you do not want to fail yourself and the company, right? It will also help you gauge if you are right for the job.

7.    Who and how will I be trained?

It is good to know if someone will help you in the first few days. It will help you with the adjustments once hired. Also, to help you familiarize with your tasks.

8.    Are there trainings available for your employees?

Another important question to ask in an interview. Trainings will help you in your career growth. Companies that offers training are good companies as they think about how to help their employees in their professional maturity. If the answer is yes, then you are in good hands.

9.    Are their opportunities for professional development?

When you have a career goal set in mind, it is important that you ask this question. This allows you to know if your stay in the company will be worth it. Also, it gives you something to look forward to. Among professionals with career advancement goal, they want to be in a company that gives them opportunities to grow and achieve their personal professional goals.

10.   What is your performance review process and how often do you do it?

Performance review helps in your professional growth. It also means the company cares for your improvement or that it values the work that you do for them. Also, performance review is the key towards earning higher salary.

11.   What metrics do you use during performance evaluation?

Whether it be based on the number of projects approved or the increase in sales, you need to know. It will also help you strategize your work. The goal, of course, is to have a good evaluation at the end.

12.   Can you tell me more about the company?

Of course you did your research, but not everything is written online. This question is to help you get to know more about the company’s goals, mission, vision, as well as its culture. It will also help give the interviewer an impression how interested you are to be part of the company and how you aim to be the right person for it.

13.   What are the company’s goals in the next five to ten years?

This is indirectly asking how stable the company is. Of course, you do not want to throw a question like how is the company’s financial stability, right? So, instead of being too straightforward, ask this question instead.

14.   Can you please tell me something about the team I will be working with?

Whether you are joining the company as a head of a team or department or as a member of it, you have to ask this question. It will give you an idea what type of persons you will be dealing with in case you are hired.

15.   What department or departments will I most likely be working with?

This question helps you get an idea on who else will you be closely working with apart from your immediate team members or supervisor. It will also help you prepare yourself towards dealing with the people from the other team or department.

16.   How is the work environment in this company?

Admit it, you will be more efficient when the working environment is good. By asking this question, you get to see if the company meets your expectations (you sure have one, right?). If the company have a good and friendly work environment, then that is a good cue for you that the company is worth working for.

17.   In your own perspective, how has the company changes since you joined?

Of course, you want to know if the company adapts to change as well, right? With the innovations around, the company has to know how to cope. It will help you gauge as well if the company is innovative or traditional. Then based on your personality, you will get to see if the company is right for you.

18.   What are the company’s benefits?

Another come on for applicants, at the same time, the reason why employees stay in companies for years is good company benefits. It gives you an idea how much the company cares and loves its people. If the company have a list of good benefits, then that is a good catch.

19.   What is the culture of the company?

Like in any other relationships, you have to make sure that you are compatible not only for the job, but for the company as well. By asking the culture of the company, you get to know if it fits on your personality, as well as your values.

20.   What are the next steps of my application process?

Some applicants shy away from asking this question, but actually, there is nothing wrong with it. This question will help you get an idea if the company is interested to get you on the job. This will also help you assess whether there is a chance to be hired or if it is time to move forward to other applications.

So, there you go. These set of questions will serve as your guide. You don’t necessarily have to ask everything. You may only choose which question or questions you think will best serve your interest, and help you decide if you will pursue your application thereon or you will withdraw.

Remember, even if you are in need of a job, you owe it to yourself to land in a company that can help you reach your career goals, will give you room for development and career advancement, will allow you to grow and widen your network, and most of all, will give you financial security.