We’re yet to find another being who genuinely loves a job interview, but if you want to land the dream job they’re a necessary evil. So instead of dreading your next interview, come prepared with some killer questions that will bump you to the top spot.
Asking the right questions will also give you a chance to decide if the job is right for you. They may decide whether to hire you or not, but ultimately the decision around accepting the job is all yours—feel the power!
Get ready to nail your next job interview with these 10 questions.
1. Can You Tell Me What A Typical Day In This Job Looks Like?
This might seem like a fairly basic question, but it’s essential in giving you a better understanding of what you’re applying for. There’s only so much you can glean from those bullet-point lists of required skills. It’ll help you figure out whether this is the job you really want and set the tone for the rest of the interview.
2. What’s Your Favourite Thing About Your Job/The Company?
How easily your interviewer answers this question will give you a lot of insight into whether they’re enjoying their time there, which is useful information for you; no one wants a Debbie Downer for a boss. It’ll also give you more insight into what you’ll be doing in your day to day, as well as areas to be wary of treading toes in.
3. What Do You Expect Me To Have Accomplished Six Months Into The Role?
Interviewers love this question. It proves that you’re goals oriented, which is important to pretty much every business out there. It’ll also be extremely useful for you in forming your answers for the remainder of the interview and, if successful, it’ll help you get off on the right foot in your new job.
4. What’s The Company Culture Like?
Yes, you want a new job. But you also want to make sure that your new job is going to be the right fit for you so you don’t find yourself back in the interviewee seat in three months time. If this question is met with a blank look and you pride yourself on your ability to throw a work mixer, then it’s looking like boring times ahead. It’s well and good to work hard, but everyone needs a little fun in their workday—we spend about 30 per cent of our lives at work afterall.
5. Can You Tell Me The Biggest Challenges The Company/You Face Right Now?
This is your big chance to step in with the solutions to make your potential new employer swoon. Prep some great responses and you’ll be putting your best foot forward as an efficient, critical thinker.
6. Are There Opportunities To Grow And Upskill Within The Company?
Akin to the culture question, opportunities to grow and learn are incredibly important in any job unless you like feeling stale. Most people have gotten the hang of their new gig six months in, so you’ll want to know what effort the company puts into training its employees and if there are opportunities to climb the ladder.
7. Are There Any Reasons You Think I Might Not Be The Right Fit For This Role?
It might seem strange to focus on your weaknesses in a job interview, but asking this question gives you a chance to put any doubts your potential new boss might have about you to bed. For example, if you’re going for a management role, but haven’t yet managed anybody, you’ll want to let them know about all the areas you’ve stepped up in the past and how you plan to learn about being a manager in the future. You’re basically telling them “I’ve got this” and putting their mind at ease.
8. How Would I Fit Into The Team?
Asking how you’ll fit into the team is another way to figure out if the position is right for you. Here you should find out how many people are in the team, their roles and who you’ll be working with on a day to day basis. If you thrive in a big team and the job you’re going for is just going to be you and your boss it might be a red flag for you. Similarly, if you like things solitary and your team is made up of 20 people at different levels it could be a little too chaotic for your liking.
9. What Makes You Excited For The Coming Year At The Company?
Unless you’re up for a challenge, a company that’s tightening its belt and cutting back staff doesn’t promise a fun time for the year ahead, so definitely ask this question. The answer is all in the response time and how animated, yet genuine, your interviewer sounds about the coming months.
10. What Are The Next Steps From Here?
You’ll probably be dying to get out of the room at this point, but trust us, you definitely want to ask this question. It’ll save you hours of anguish in the coming days wondering whether they will call or not. They’ll typically tell you when all of the interviews will be completed and when and how they plan on informing you if you’ve been successful. After the interview it might be a good idea to touch base with your referees to let them know someone may be giving them a call and to put in a good word for you. It never hurts to send doughnuts.
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Image Credit: Urban List