At some point during a job interview, the recruiter usually says something like “So, do you have any questions?”
If you would usually respond with ‘no’, or you are not sure why you should ask questions at interviews, read on…
Why it’s important to ask questions at a job interview.
If you don’t have any questions for the employer, it may appear as if you are unprepared or disinterested in hearing more. If you have some questions prepared (don’t bombard them with questions, 1-3 is standard), it’s not only a good signal to employers but it helps you find out if the company is the right match for you.
With that in mind, the type of questions you should ask are:
Things you really care about.
Do you care about the future of the company? Ask about their plans for the next year, or five.
Do you want to know how to provide the most value in the position? Ask how you could contribute the most during the first month at work given your skills/experience/passion in that field. Are there any opportunities for advancement?
Clarification on something.
You may want to clarify things like:
• If given the job, when would I be likely to start?
• What is the timeline for the next steps?
• What would my day to day roles be?
Making a connection.
You can ask the employer questions to find out more about them and their role in the company:
• How long have you been with the company?
• What do you love about working here?
Types of questions to avoid.
To make a good impression, you don’t want to leave the employer stuck for answers to your questions.
Avoid broad or deep questions that put the interviewer in a position that is not comfortable to answer.
Try to ask open ended questions, rather than those with only a yes or no answer, unless of course you have a simple question that you need the answer to and a yes or no is all that’s required.
A job interview is not just the employer’s chance to get to know you. It’s your chance to get to know them and decide if it is a good fit for you. So, make the most of your time there and ask your questions when you are invited to.
Visit our blog for regular job interview tips so you can go for the position you want and maximize your chances of getting it! Make this your year for your career.
