When getting ready for a job interview, normally it is a great idea to prepare for questions that you will be asked by a hiring manager. After all, you are the person being interviewed, right? While this is true, sometimes the questions that you ask may be even more important.
During any job interview, never discount the power of asking important questions.
Asking great questions during an interview will not only show that you have researched and care about a company, it greatly boosts your credibility as well. If you ask the right questions you can learn a lot about how an organization functions before stepping foot in the door.
Read on to learn 10 great questions that you can ask during a job interview.
1. What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
This is one of the best questions that you can start off with during an interview. Ask the hiring manager what a day in the life would be like if you are chosen for this position. This will tell you exactly what responsibilities exist for the role, and will give you an idea of the overall workload of the job.
When you ask this question, make sure to pay attention to any and all tasks that are mentioned. Feel free to ask questions and relate back to the job description.
If there is a disconnect between the description and your discussion make sure to talk about it with the hiring manager.
Pay attention and always trust your instincts!
2. How does this position impact major company goals?
In any job, an employer is hiring to accomplish a goal that is out of reach for them currently.
This goal can vary from making the business more money, to raising company awareness, or even saving time for current team members. Always make sure to ask what an employer really wants from a new hire! Talk with the hiring manager about current company goals and how they can be achieved with your contributions.
Your goal when asking this question is to find out where you may fit in the overall company strategy. This will also reveal what the leadership of the company is currently prioritizing, and may give you insight into organizational culture as well.
3. What would you like to see me accomplish in 30, 60, and 90 days at this company?
After asking the first two questions, it is good to get an idea of the time frame that you may have to accomplish any business goals. Most employers will have set goals for 30, 60, and 90 days after hiring an employee. Make sure to take note of the time frame that an employer is looking at for each of the goals that are most important. If you think that adjustments should be made (if it would take more or less time), it may be a good idea to let an employer know. Here’s an example of how to go about this.
Employer: “Our goal is for you to sell $100,000 worth of inventory in the first 90 days.”
Interviewee: “ In my last job, I was able to sell $400,000 worth of inventory in the first 30 days. Although this may be a different industry, I believe that I can exceed your 90 day goal for this position.”
Utilize your previous experience to let an employer know what you can accomplish if you are hired. If you think that any goal is unachievable, it may mean that you are not fully qualified for the role.
4. Would I be able to shadow a current employee before accepting an offer?
Although this may be less realistic with the rise of COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic, it is always smart to ask if you can shadow a current employee if you are really interested in a job. Even if this takes place virtually, it is still a great idea.
By shadowing an employee, you will learn everything about a business from daily functions to overall culture. It also will give insight into the employees and team members that you will be working with every day. If an employer does not offer this, it is not something to worry about.
Regardless, this question shows genuine interest in a company and will impress many hiring managers.
5. What do you enjoy the most about working here?
After getting to know the exact information about the day to day operations of a job, follow up with more informal questions. It is important to remain professional, but give the hiring manager some opportunities to talk informally! One great thing to ask is what they like the most about their job.
You will be able to quickly tell if the company is a good place to work by how an interviewer answers this question.
If they take a while to answer and are unsure of positive aspects of their job, you may want to reconsider working for the company. On the other hand, if a hiring manager has nothing but praise for their job and workplace, it is a sign that you have found a great place to work.
6. How has your company adapted to recent events?
With the ongoing pandemic and rise of telecommuting, this question is becoming extremely popular. An employer may be caught off guard by this question, but it is extremely important to ask regardless.
Make sure to understand any changes that the company has gone through recently due to the ongoing pandemic.
This could consist of everything from layoffs to schedule changes.
The answer to this question can not only give you a better idea of the overall health of a company, it can also let you know how adaptive an organization is overall.
7. What mistakes have others made in this position?
Everyone makes mistakes. We are all human after all!
However, it is important to ask what issues there may have been with the position in the past. If you can learn about any issues during the interview process, you will be more prepared to deal with them once hired.
On top of this, asking about previous workers and why they left the position is also important. The more that you can learn about what a hiring manager is looking for in a new hire, the better.
8. Where do you see this company in five years?
After talking about job specifics, company culture, and ways to improve where others have failed, end your interview by talking about what happens next. With this question, your goal is to find out more about what plans company management has for the future.
This question can also show that you are looking for a long term position. Most hiring managers are looking for candidates that want to stay at a job long-term, and this question can help to develop trust.
Remember to always leave off your last question looking to the future. This helps to show an employer that you are very interested, and leaves things off on a positive note!
What do you normally ask during a job interview? Are you adding any of these questions to your interview checklist? Let us know on the PSI Instagram and let’s talk!
Leave a Reply