Questions to Ask During The Interview
It comes up all the time, people are at the interview and things are going along smoothly. You think you have done a good job of expressing yourself, your achievements, and how you can add value; and then – the question from the interviewer: “So, do you have any questions for me?” Silence. You didn’t think about this; you don’t really know what to ask.First let me start by saying that the interview is a two way street. The interviewer just sat there for roughly 40 minutes (maybe) asking you all sorts of questions about your background and professional history. Now it’s your turn – you have nothing? How is that even possible?
It is important to ask questions. This is your chance to learn something that you don’t know about the company. The questions you ask can play a big part in helping you determine if the company is right for you. You need to interview the interviewer.
Here are some recommended questions to get you back on your feet.
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- How long have you worked at the company?
- What are some of the things you enjoy about your role?
- What are some things that you find frustrating about the working environment?
- Do you have any information regarding the company’s social responsibility?
- What kinds of issues do you deal with on a daily basis?
- What are the traits that you are looking for in a new employee?
- Is there anything about my background that you feel is missing to obtain employment here?
- What is the company’s position on internal movement?
- What is the work culture like? Do people come early and leave on time, or do they generally arrive a bit later and stay later?
- What are some of the challenges the organization is facing today?
- Do you recommend any professional organizations that I should consider joining as I explore opportunities within the field?
- What do you see as some of the immediate deliverables for the person entering this role?
- How large is the department? (If you are a senior level employee: Is there support staff for this role?)
- Does the company offer any formal training programs?
- Is there anyone else to whom I should speak to learn more about the organization?
Of course you are not going to ask all of these questions; this is a good starting point though. You might even have come up with a few questions of your own specific to the company / role. You can fill in your own list with a few of these.
I recommend asking a few solid questions. You don’t want to keep the interview going for an extra 30 minutes with question after question. Ask the most relevant questions that will help facilitate your decision. You will likely have time throughout the remainder of the interview process to speak with others and address any other issues you have.
Find this helpful? Have a question for me? Send it to me: debra@careersdonewrite.com
Happy searching!
This blog's author, Debra Wheatman of Careers Done Write, provides executive career services including resume and cover letter preparation, job search / interviewing strategies and professional branding including how to effectively use LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media in your career.
Visit CareersDoneWrite.com to learn more about how we can put your career in gear with interview catching resumes and professionally written career documents.