Most interviewees focus only on what job interview questions they will be asked and what answers they should give.

Few give enough attention to what questions they should ask of their interviewer(s)!

But you must have at least one good interview question to ask. Why?

Because if you have none, your interviewers may have one of the following negative thoughts: 1) They will think that you think you know everything about the job/company already when they know you don’t (how could you unless you’re doing the job already?). 2) They will think you’re not serious about choosing the right job since you will accept the position without asking any questions about it.

So always have a few good interview question to ask your interviewer(s).

Here are some ideas if you’re stuck.

Questions about the Company

▪ What can you tell me about the Company’s plans for the next 5 years?

▪ What is the Company’s main focus this year?

▪ What is the best thing about working for the Company?

▪ What does the Company pride itself on?

▪ How would you describe the Company ethos?

Questions about the role

▪ Apart from what was discussed, what other activities will I undertake in this role?

▪ What plans do you have for this role, moving forward?

▪ How many others currently perform the same role as this?

▪ Has the role changed since it first began?

Questions about training

▪ Can you tell me how I’ll be trained? Will it be on-the-job for example?

▪ How long do you expect it to be before I’m fully competent in the role?

▪ Who will train me? Will it be a colleague doing the job already?

Questions about progression/development

▪ What progression opportunities will there be for me if I’m successful in this role?

▪ Does the Company promote development for its staff?

▪ Have you yourself benefited from progression in this Company?

Questions about performance measurement

▪ How will my performance be measured in this role?

▪ What rewards are there for those who excel in this role?

▪ How often will I be evaluated?

You may have noticed that some of these interview questions are personal questions to the interviewer. Don’t be afraid to ask these. It shows that you see your interviewer(s) as employees too and are interested in their experiences and opinions. This creates a friendly, warm environment which can only work in your favor.

Note: Don’t ask “NO” questions, but don’t ask TOO many questions either. Your interviewer’s time is precious, so only ask those questions which will affect your decision to accept the job if it were offered to you. Stick to a maximum of 5 questions, less if time appears short.

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Catherine Jones is a leading authority on recruitment and, with three colleagues, has written a how to snag a job website in which she shares her secrets on getting hired.
Catherine works as a senior manager for a large financial services organization and recruits new employees on a regular basis. Learn from the experts and snag the job you want – your dream job!