Whilst most people preparing for a job interview will perhaps focus solely on how best to answer questions put to them, it’s important to remember that an interview is very much a two-way street. For many reasons, asking questions is almost just as important as answering them.
A good employer (hell, even bad ones) will usually provide you with the chance to ask questions, whether during the interview, or at the end. Always make use of the opportunity – you never know, your questions could be what differentiates you from the competition.
You may ask why it’s important to have questions prepared for your interviewer. Simply put, by not asking any questions, you will come across as ill-prepared and disinterested in the role you’re interviewing for.
Asking questions is a good way to demonstrate to your prospective employer you’ve given the role plenty of thought. It is also a great chance for you to genuinely learn more about the role you are applying for and, given you ask the right kind of questions, leave a positive, lasting impression.
When asking questions, try to stick with open-ended ones, rather than “yes”/”no” ones.
Need food for thought? Below is a list of good questions you could ask in case you’re low on ideas. It goes without saying, but do not ask anything they’ve already covered in the job description or over the course of your interview – this will just prove you weren’t paying attention in the first place.
- Why is this position open?
- Can you give me an example of how you develop people?
- What opportunities does your company provide for advancement?
- What does a typical working day look like in this role?
- What is the toughest part of the role I’m applying for?
- How is performance measured within the company?
- What do you enjoy the most about working here?
- Where do you see the company in five years?
- What do you think are the company’s strengths compared to its competitors?
- What was the company’s biggest success in the past year?
- How would you describe your ideal employee for this role?
And what about questions you shouldn’t ask during an interview? We reckon that if you avoid the ones below, you’re probably doing rather well!
- What does your company do?
- What’s the salary?
- So, when is the second interview?
- What is the annual leave entitlement?
- After I’m hired, how soon can I get promoted to your position?
- What background checks do you do?
If you have any more job interview question examples our readers can use, please add them in the comments box below.
