There is no worse a way to end an interview than responding with the words, “No, I don't have any questions”. What's more, it should rarely be the case that you have ‘no questions' to ask about what could be your life for the foreseeable future. You should take any and every opportunity to learn as much as you can about the role. Your interview is an ideal time to get real, honest and specific information that perhaps isn't available from a Google search.
The types of questions you ask can also give the Interviewer an insight into your motivations for the role and indeed any reservations you may have. Use this opportunity wisely and ask some of the following questions that will be sure to wow the hiring manager you're sat in front of:
Role-Specific Questions
How is success in this role defined?
It's likely the company will have a vision of what they expect from an ideal candidate and what it takes for someone to be successful in this role. Asking this question can help you better determine what will be expected of you so you can focus on their success criteria. Moreover, your idea of success in the role may differ from the companies. While you may think creating a new, more effective client record is what success looks like, the company may feel that success is gaining 40 new clients in the first trimester.
How does this role contribute the overall success of the business?
By asking this question you not only find out how your role contributes to the company and the influence it has over the company's success, but you also show your invested in the entire business and not just the role they're offering.
What are the short/long term company goals and how does this role support the company in achieving said goals?
This is the show-stopper question and you could make it even more show-stopping by researching the company goals in advance and reformulate the question to something like: “How does this role support the company in achieving the goal of …”Now only are you showing a deep knowledge of the company but you also show the interviewer your investment in the company through showing what you can do for them, not necessarily only asking what they can do for you.
What are the principal responsibilities or tasks this role should focus on in the first months of employment?
This question will give you valuable insight into what your work schedule will look like and will allow you to hit the ground running, already knowing what is expected of you before you take the role. It's also a useful question if you're a little unsure about the role. If the answer they give feels like too much responsibility or perhaps isn't the work you're looking for you can keep looking for a better fit.
How do you see this role developing within the company over the next year / 5 years? /
What is the typical career trajectory for this post within the company?
Ambitious, motivated and committed are just three adjectives that will spring to mind for an employer after being asked this type of question. Career development questions such as these, will show an employer you have a vested interest not only in the role you're applying to, but the company as a whole.
General Company Questions
What is the company management style within the organization?
Knowing the company management style will better help you determine your fit within the company. Work out if your better motivated by hard or soft management types and from there you can make a better, more informed discussion about whether or not you take the job, should they offer it to you.
What is the company culture?
This links a lot with the former question on management style and will help you figure out your personal fit within the business. You should already have a pretty good idea of company culture from your research so asking this question may just serve to confirm what you already know and deepen your understanding.
What do most current employees like about working here?
Finding out what current employees enjoy best about their job will show you a great deal of insight into what you will most likely enjoy about your role. You may even want to make your question more specific and find out what the former employees who had this role best enjoyed about the role, if indeed the post hasn't been newly created.
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