It’s pretty much a certainty that at some point in every interview you attend your potential new employer will ask if you have any questions. This gives you not only the chance to impress with how interested you are in the job but also to figure out if this is the right role and company for you.
It can be tough to know what questions to ask in a job interview and, sadly, it’s not considered acceptable to ask if they do post-work drinks on a Friday. To avoid getting caught out on the spot it’s best to have a variety of questions up your sleeve as some may already get answered in the main part of your interview. We’ve come up with some examples to give you a head start.
#1 Can you elaborate more on what the role involves day-to-day?
Job descriptions tend to focus on a broad description of the role and very rarely give insight into the nitty-gritty of what you’ll be doing daily.
By asking this question you’ll be able to better visualise yourself doing the job and gain insight into what your future working day would be like. You’ll also be able to discover if there’s anything that hasn’t been listed in the job description that you’re not keen on, thus saving you from a rude awakening on your first day.
#2 Why has this role become available?
This question can give you some valuable insight into the company culture. If the role is available due to the previous person being promoted, then this indicates that the company offers good opportunities for career progression. Similarly, if it’s a newly created role it suggests that the company is performing well, and your new job will be fairly secure.
While your interviewer is unlikely to let on if the previous person is leaving on bad terms, you should still be able to glean a little bit of insight into the expectations for the role by the answer they give so be sure to pay attention and look for underlying clues.
#3 What are the most challenging aspects of this role?
It’s good to be challenged by your job but you also want to know what you’re taking on and if you might be overwhelmed. Your interviewer’s perspective on the difficult aspects of the role will give you an idea of hurdles you might face, and you can then assess if you will be able to manage these difficulties.
#4 If I’m successful in getting the role, how will my performance be measured?
It’s always good to have clear and well-structured goals to work towards and if you know from the get-go how your achievements will be measured, you’ll be able to perform better.
Even if you are unsuccessful in getting the job, this answer might give you an idea of the things you can work on, making you even more prepared when you interview for a similar job.
#5 Are there opportunities for professional development on offer?
Working for an employer that makes staff development a priority can give your overall career a huge boost.
So if your career growth is an important factor to you when opting for a new role, it’s good to get an idea of how potential employers will support this. Perhaps they offer internal training or have the budget to spring for external courses and conferences, but you won’t know until you ask.
#6 What do you think is the best thing about working here?
How your interviewer answers this question can tell you a bit about the company culture and values. If more than one person is conducting your interview and they both give the same answer, say flexibility over working patterns, you can pretty much bank on this being a top priority for the company as a whole.
#7 What is the salary on offer?
Not all job descriptions offer a salary range, but it can be a huge factor to take into consideration when you are choosing whether to accept a job offer. It can be difficult to talk about money as you don’t want to come off as presumptuous, but if money still hasn’t been discussed at all by the end of your interview now is your chance to ask.
#8 Ask about something you’ve seen about the company on social media, their website or in the press.
This one is all about showing off that you’ve done your homework. It should be tailored specifically to that company, so you’ll need to prepare a new question for each interview.
For example, if you’ve seen on the company website that they are planning to expand into an overseas market, you can ask about the timeline for this and how your role would potentially play into it.
#9 What are the next steps?
It’s best to use this as your last question as it brings things to a natural close. It will give you some clarity over when you can expect to hear from them and if there will be any further interview stages.
Some companies have multiple rounds of interviews and/or assessments so it’s good to understand what will be expected from you going forward.
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