Questions to Ask in an Interview
An interview is a two way street.
Not only is it an opportunity for employers to evaluate if you are a good fit for the open position, it is also your opportunity to familiarize yourself with a potential employer and position.
We’ll equip you with questions that will help you determine if this position is the best choice for you.
Even if you already know you want to work for this company in this capacity, you should prepare several questions to ask in your interview.
Asking questions in an interview shows that you are interested in the company and the position. It also shows your future employer that you can think critically and do not make decisions lightly.
Guidelines for Forming Your Questions
Ask open ended questions.
Avoid questions with a “yes” or “no” answer.
Be authentic.
This is your opportunity to find out if this position and company are a good fit for you.
Ask questions that you really care about rather than generic questions.
Ask questions that you really care about, rather than generic questions that might impress the person interviewing you.
Sample Questions to Ask
We’ve put together a list of good questions to ask to help prompt you in creating your own.
Questions about the position
If I am successful in this position, what are you hoping will be accomplished during the first 6 months?
Is this a new position, or was there someone in the job before?
How will my performance be measured?
What challenges do you expect a person in this position to face?
What would a typical day in this position look like?
Questions about the company
What do you like most about working for [company]?
What are the most and least desirable attributes of the company culture?
How involved are employees in determining their own goals and tasks?
How does [company] develop employees?
Tell me about your most successful employees. What do they do differently?
How long is the average tenure of an employee? This may be available online - check before your interview before you ask this question.
Questions about the team/department
How does your department fit into the organization overall?
Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
How does this position contribute to the team’s success?
How does this team contribute to the success of your customers?
Don’t just use our sample list though. Form your own questions based on what you know about the company and position - or what you want to know.
Questions to Avoid
Avoid asking generic questions that could be listed on the website. You should do your own research in advance.
Don’t ask questions about your salary and benefits package. This should be done after you receive a job offer, not during the interview process.
Don't ask generic questions that you can find the answer to on the companies website.
Don’t get ahead of schedule. Avoid minor details that would be best addressed after the job offer. (Scheduling vacations, etc.)
Be prepared
Make a list of questions in advance to ask. You can refer to these during the interview if you need to.
Practice asking your questions during a role-play interview with a mentor or friend.
Do you have an insightful question that you ask during interviews?
What questions will you add to your list for future interviews?
