What is one unique interview question to ask an employer?
To help job seekers ace their interviews and find the right role, we asked HR experts and business leaders this question for their best advice. From showing your willingness to learn to seeking measures of success, there are several questions that may help you learn more about your potential employer as you explore the job market.
Here are eight unique questions to ask an employer at your next job interview:
- Look to the Future
- Inquire About the Position
- Understand Where You’ll Fit In
- Show Your Willingness to Learn
- Ask for Company Culture Insight
- Get Your Interviewer to Open Up
- See How You Can Help
- Seek Measures of Success
Look to the Future
As an employer, I love when someone asks me: “Where do you see my skills in 2-3 years?” It really alerts me they are in it for the long haul — which is so important. Talk about how you want to grow with a company and develop — that stands out!
Trevor Rappleye, CorporateFilming.com
Inquire About the Position
“Why is this position currently available?” This is a very good test question to learn more about the company and its culture. If the interviewer responds that it is a newly created role, then the company is growing. If the position is open because an employee was promoted, then the company believes in promoting from within. If someone has been terminated, then you must try to learn what went wrong. A great follow-up question should be, “What is needed above the requirements to be successful in this role?” This will help you understand what the hiring manager values in a good candidate and team member.
LT Ladino Bryson, vCandidates
Understand Where You’ll Fit In
When you get the chance to ask an interviewer a question, I suggest asking, “How do you see me fitting into your team?” It’s important to understand the intentions of your future employer. Getting on the same page can help you set expectations for what your new assignments will entail. Asking this question will also get your interviewer to open up about who you will be directly working with. You will get the chance to learn a little more about the company structure and how your role relates to the company’s success.
Miles Tucker, Markitors
Show Your Willingness to Learn
Learning is a never-ending venture, and you want to make sure that you are going to be working at a place that values learning. Ask your interviewer what the company has taught them and their favorite aspect of learning. This will give insight into what they teach, how they go about training, and what you can expect. It also is a question that interviewers enjoy answering.
Olivia Young, Conscious Items
Ask for Company Culture Insight
I always ask what the employer’s favorite aspect of a company’s culture is. It gives insight into how the culture truly is and highlights some fun things that you may not know about in an initial interview. Plus, employers usually lighten up around this question and engage more with you as the interviewee. Company culture is very important to ask about to see if you would thrive in that business environment.
Kiran Gollakota, Waltham Clinic
Get Your Interviewer to Open Up
During the interviewing process, you’re going to spend so much time talking about yourself and your own qualifications. By asking the interviewer a personal question such as, “What’s been your biggest accomplishment since joining?” you can end the interview on a bonding note and give yourself a break from talking about yourself. Bonus points if you’re able to connect their story to one of your own accomplishments! Plus, their response will give you extra insight into the company, an added benefit when determining if the company would be a good fit for yourself and your goals.
Tom Mumford, Undergrads
See How You Can Help
If you’re looking for a truly unique and bold question to pose to an employer, ask them the following: “What is the company’s (or your team’s) biggest weakness, and how can I help you address it?” It flips the table on them and will truly make you stand out from other candidates. It takes courage to ask such a question. It’s definitely rarely asked and shows that you care about the organization or team and want to be part of the solution. After all, there is nothing more appealing to a potential supervisor than an employee who wants to make their life easier and filled with fewer headaches. So while the first reaction can be jaw-dropping, surely most hiring managers will appreciate the deeper implications such a question has and why it might be posed.
Magda Zurawska, ResumeLab
Seek Measures of Success
No one knows exactly how an interview is going to go until you are in the actual interview. It is always important to ask questions to an employer during an interview. One, you want to know as much information as possible about the job. However, you also want to impress the employer. One unique interview question I would suggest asking is as follows: “One year from now, my boss is saying that I was an excellent hire and am doing a fantastic job. What would have to happen during my first year on the job to get that kind of reaction?”
Tate Meagher, Meagher Law Office, PLLC
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