While job interviews can feel nerve-wracking, they’re not just about a prospective employer finding out more about you. They’re also a great opportunity for you to find out whether a role is a good fit for you and show an employer how interested you are.
Here are 9 questions that you could ask in an interview.
1. What do you want this role to achieve in the next six or 12 months?
This question goes beyond what the role description is and gets to the heart of what your manager wants you to achieve. By asking this question you can understand what’s expected of you and how you can add value to the organisation.
2. How will you measure success in this role?
Even if you know what they want the role to achieve, that may be different to what your measure of success is. If you know what you’ll be measured against you can start thinking about how you will go about meeting or exceeding expectations.
3. What does a typical day look like?
This question can give you a lot of information about what’s expected of the role, how much autonomy it has, the level of support you may receive and how much flexibility the organisation has.
4. What can I do to get up to speed quickly?
Show your prospective employer that you’re keen and want to add value as soon as possible. Depending on the job, speeding up the learning process even before you start can give you a real advantage.
5. How do you anticipate workflow will be managed?
In this day and age we’re attached to technology 24/7, so it’s fair to ask a prospective employer what their expectations are when it comes to your availability after hours and on weekends.
6. What learning and development opportunities are there?
Growing your skill base is an important part of any role. By asking what opportunities the company offers you can demonstrate that professional growth is important to you and also learn about what benefits you could access if you’re successful.
7. What’s your favourite part about working at the company?
How existing employees feel about their workplace often provides insights into the corporate culture and what you may find appealing about working there.
8. Do you have any reservations about my suitability for the role?
This gives you the opportunity to hear first hand any hesitations that a prospective employer may have about you and your fit for the role. By asking this question you have the opportunity to address those issues upfront which may just get you the position.
9. Why did this position become available?
It might seem like a strange question to ask, but understanding why a position is available can give you clues about the culture of the organisation. Perhaps someone was promoted internally or it’s a new position to accommodate growth.
If you’re ready to find your next role, partner with someone who can help you every step of the way.
