When attending an interview, most people focus on what their responses to the interviewer’s questions will be. Of course they want to be sure they’ll share all their qualifications and the highlights of their employment history, but they’re missing out on another facet that can be used to show genuine interest in the job opportunity. Millennials should be aware that they are not only allowed to ask questions of the interviewer, but are encouraged to do so. In asking questions, a job candidate shows her interest, her commitment, and her familiarity with the company.
Asking the right questions also helps a candidate to stand out. Here are 15 questions to ask interviewer you can use on your next job interview.
- Is this a newly created position?– If so, find out why it was created, why it’s needed. If not, ask how long the position has been around and if the set of responsibilities associated with it have changed in that time.
- Why is the position vacant?– This is a good way of asking what happened to the previous employee who held the position or why no one else in the company qualifies to fill the role. If the previous employee got a promotion, that’s a good sign. If they were let go, try to find out what didn’t work.
- What was previously done that they liked/didn’t like?– This is a great question to ask to determine what is expected of the position and what you would need to avoid doing.
- How does the company evaluate employee performance?– Most businesses will perform an evaluation on an annual or biannual basis. Show interest in learning up front what you’ll be evaluated on so you’ll have a better idea of the expectations of working for that business.
- What is the company work environment like?– This is a legitimate question because you want to be sure you can work in the professional environment you’re assigned to. Not everyone likes open office spaces and not everyone enjoys working off-site all the time.
- How well does the company work together as a team?– Questions about inter-office communication are important. It’s essential to have reliable communication between co-workers and management levels in order to complete your assigned tasks. Does everyone work on their own? Does everyone get along? These questions provide good insight into the current staff members of the company.
- What is the company’s mission statement and core values?– This should be an easy one for your interviewer to answer. If not, the company may not be that well organized. A mission statement and core values are a part of a standard business plan. Every employee should be aware of them, and so should you if you’re considering working with them.
- What metrics are used?– Essentially, you’re asking what statistics are used to measure the businesses success or failure. You don’t want to work for a company that’s “shooting from the hip” as it were. Are there specific goals that need to be met? How is everything tracked?
- What are the short-term and long-term goals?– By asking questions related to goal-reaching, you’re taking an interest in the company’s future to see where you fit in to help them get there. Follow up with questions on how they plan on accomplishing these goals.
- What immediate concerns need to be addressed?– This is important because it’s most likely going to be the first major task you’ll be asked to do: to fix something, reorganize something, or create something brand new to solve a problem. You’re showing you’re interested in learning what the business’s immediate priorities are so you can jump into action right away if hired.
- What impact is the company making/What’s its role in the community?– If community involvement is important to you, this question is a great way to find out during your interview if your interests match those of the organization.The company may be great at what it does, but does it fill a need? Is it having a positive impact?
- How does the competition influence business decisions? – Show you’re aware of the competition and are interested in learning what the organization’s plan is to differentiate itself from its competitors.
- What is the chain of command?– Would you be reporting to one person? Three? Find out who you communicate with and if you would be managing others.
- Are there growth opportunities? – You’re being hired for the current vacant position, so reassure you’re interested in that position. But also make it clear you’re interested in staying with a company long-term and would be interested in any promote-from-within opportunities.
- Are there training opportunities?-Again, make it clear you already are qualified to fill the current position, but ask if there are in-house training classes provided for the stations higher than yours, or ones that could help you do your job better.
These questions will not only show the interviewer that you’ve done your research and are someone who pays attention to details, but it also gives you a chance to evaluate the business and find it it’s the right fit for you. Don’t be afraid to ask.
