4 Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
As a candidate, you should always plan to ask questions during your interview. This is important for several reasons. Firstly, you need to gather information to understand if the opportunity is a fit for you. Ensuring you understand it holistically and getting your questions answered will inform your decision to accept a possible job offer. Secondly, asking questions shows that you are curious and genuinely interested in the specific role/company/industry. Strong questions demonstrate that you’ve “done your homework” which goes a long way with a potential employer. So what are the questions you should be asking in an interview?
#1: What does success look like in this position, and how do you measure it?
Job descriptions often use boilerplate language, and while they may indicate the skills you need, they don’t often clarify what makes a person successful in a specific role. Asking this question will help you understand the priorities of the different duties you will perform, gather insights from your possible manager, and the frequency by which you will be evaluated and on what basis. It also demonstrates that you care about accountability and will work hard to hit the goals that are set for you.
#2: What do you like about working on this team (or at this company)?
This question serves a variety of purposes. Let’s be real; everyone loves talking about themselves, so this allows for that and builds rapport with the interviewer. It can also provide insights as to what motivates your future colleagues or manager, so that if you go to work there, you understand them better. Lastly (and most importantly), asking this can give you an inside look into aspects of the organization that you may not have realized you’d like, help you determine if the people who work there genuinely love it, and determine if it’s a good fit for you.
#3: Is there anything about my background or resume that makes you question whether I am a good fit for this role?
While we don’t typically advise students to focus on negative topics (like areas you are lacking), this is a strategic question as it allows you to address any potential concerns that the company might have about you. In interviews, there may be concerns about a candidate, but there’s not always an opportunity for the interviewer(s) to ask about them, thus leading to incorrect assumptions. This question allows you to address concerns and shows that you can handle critical feedback.
#4: [Insert the question you really care about here.]
Avoiding questions on pay, things that can be found easily by searching on Google, and overly personal questions, this is the chance for you to get the details about the thing you REALLY want to know. Since we are all unique and have different values and things we care about, this is your chance to get that burning question answered. Interviewers want to know you’re a human and not on autopilot churning through a list of pre thought out questions that your career center provided you, so ask about the topic that really has you curious.
Remember that interviewing is a two-way street. You’re there to information gather, as much as the employer is there to determine if you are a fit for the role. And while it didn’t make my list of top 4, it goes without saying to always be sure to ask about next steps, so that you can appropriately manage your expectations.
Happy interviewing, and good luck!
"The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge." - Thomas Berger
