6 questions to ask during a job
interview

The dreaded job interview. We all know to prep and memorise how to best answer the most common questions. But as your interview will come to a close, you will most likely be asked one final question “Do you have any questions?”

Asking questions about the role shows that you are engaged and interested in the company and demonstrates your initiative. A job interview is also your chance to find out whether a company and position are a good fit for you. Here are 6 questions you can ask your interviewer.

1. Why has this position become available?

Ask your interviewer if the position is newly created or if the previous position holder decided to leave and why. Not only will you learn about the management and growth expectations of the company but you can use their answer to highlight particular areas in which you possess strong skills. If the role is new, focus on your ability to innovate and take initiative, while if you are replacing a former staff member consider times where you have been able to develop and refine existing processes or resolve work related tensions.

2. What are your expectations for the position?

Understanding how success in your role will be measured is key and the best way to meet your employer’s goals is to know up front what they are.

What do they expect from someone who is hired for this position? How do they evaluate their performance? How often are the reviews? As each business operates differently, this is equally useful for you to find out what type of approach the company takes with its employees so you can decide whether the approach suits you as a person.

3. What is the typical career path for someone in this role?

Employers increasingly recognise the importance that candidates place on career development and progression. By outlining your career goals and seeking to understand how your potential can help you achieve them you can demonstrate your reliability and commitment, assuring the employer that you are a viable long-term investment.

4. Where does the job fit into the team structure?

Understanding the way you will support and interact with the rest of the team will be important to your success in any role, and showing an interest in this early on shows your employer that you recognise the importance of collaboration at work.

5. What do you like about working for this company?

Gaining an insight into someone that is already part of the company will help you to find out more about whether the cultural fit is what you are looking for as the interviewer is likely to step out of a corporate role. Showing an interest in what the interviewer thinks of the working culture of the company demonstrates that you are considering aspects of the role beyond the job description.

6. What are the next steps in the interview process?

Although it can be easily forgotten, this question is vital to ask. It shows the interviewer that you have thought about the next stages and provides you with important information about the timeline for hiring so that you can follow up appropriately.

Need more interview help? Follow these 3 essential tips when prepping for your next job interview or download our interview guides in French or Dutch.