You’re moving swiftly through the interview process at a company that seems like the perfect fit, but have you asked all the necessary questions to your interviewer to know for sure? If not, no need to worry – we’ve put together a list of 6 important questions you can ask in your next interview to ensure you’ve got a solid understanding of the role and company you are interviewing for. Once you ask these questions, you should have a great idea if this is truly the role that is the next best step for your career.
6 Important Questions to Ask During the Interview Process Before You Accept the Job
- What do the day-to-day responsibilities of the role look like?
- This is a great question to ask someone who is currently working in the role that you are interviewing for. Asking them this question should give you an idea of what a typical day for you would be like if you were offered the job. When you receive an answer to this question, really ask yourself if their response sounds like the kind of day-to-day responsibilities you’d like to have, and if you can truly see yourself happily performing those responsibilities each day.
- What is your favorite part about working at the company?
- Asking this question is a great way to get a candid, honest response on how someone feels about working for the company. You can gauge just how happy someone is in their current role at the company based on their response; if they hesitate for too long or have a hard time finding an answer, that may mean that they aren’t too thrilled about working for the company. On the other hand, if the response comes willingly and with enthusiasm, you can gather that that person truly enjoys that particular aspect of the company.
- How did this position come to be open?
- Asking your interviewer this question is a great way to discern whether the position you’re interviewing for was opened because a previous employee has left or if this position has been newly created. Paying close attention to this question’s answer is crucial; it could help you determine if the position you’re applying for is a desirable role to obtain at that company or not.
- Who would I be reporting to?
- Knowing who you would be reporting to if you were offered the job is very important. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time communicating with whomever it is that you are reporting to, so it would be helpful to have some sort of idea who that person is. We spend many hours a week at work, and the people that we are surrounded with play an important role in how we feel each day on the job. Learn about your potential manager, and then decide if they sound like the kind of person you’d like to work for.
- What is the company culture like?
- What is the company like? Is it large and stretched across the globe? Or small and close-knit? What is the mission of the company? What are its values? What do the employees at the company care about? When learning about the company’s culture, really try to envision yourself at the company based on the feedback you receive; does this sound like the kind of company you’d like to work for and you can see yourself at?
- Are there opportunities for career growth and advancement?
- This is a great question to ask if you intend to grow as a working professional. If career advancement is important to you (and the company that you’re applying to!), then there should be clear-cut opportunities for growth and advancement that your interviewer will be happy to relay to you. Plus, asking this question will show your interviewer that you’re the kind of employee that values development and strives to learn and grow in the workplace.
3 Questions You Shouldn’t Ask
- What does this company do?
- General information about a company you’re interviewing for can usually be found online, so asking a question like this in an interview could make you appear unprepared and careless. When preparing questions for an interview, make sure you’re not asking questions that you can find the answers to yourself, but rather thoughtful questions that you can’t find the answers to online (like the ones listed above!).
- Did I get the job?
- Patience is a virtue. Asking an interviewer if you “got the job” will come off as impatient and unprofessional. If the interviewer is going to eventually offer you the position, they will let you know in due time. Instead, you can ask your interviewer “What are the next steps?”. This way, you’ll have an idea of the next time you should expect to hear from your interviewer.
- When will I be promoted?
- Your interviewer couldn’t possibly have the answer to this question as you haven’t even gotten an offer to work for the company. Promotions don’t just happen, but rather, one must earn them, but not before adding great value to a company over time. So instead, refer to question #6 above to get an idea of any opportunities for advancement within the company if you are to be offered the job.
