Five Questions To Ask in a Job Interview (and Why)

The purpose of an interview is to help the company determine if your skills and experience are the right fit for them. However you should also be evaluating if they’re the best fit for you. Towards the end of the interview, you may be asked if you have any questions. Saying no instantly tells them you’re not interested in the role, so you should always have about three up your sleave. Here are five questions to consider.

What are the greatest challenges facing this team right now?

Asking this question may give you an excellent chance to highlight your skills and experience in a way that may not have been covered – especially if they can solve the challenge described. It gives you an excellent opportunity to potentially plug a gap and further sell yourself.

What are the career growth opportunities in this role?

Their response may help you decide if you want to progress with the interview process or make a decision if they offer you a job – particularly if you are weighing up two or more offers.

Can you tell me about a typical day in this role?

This will give you an indication of the type of activities and tasks you can expect and how demanding the job will be. If you feel you could easily do them with little effort, you may get bored quickly. However, if you feel the answer indicates a challenge, you may have a great opportunity to learn new skills.

What do you most enjoy about working here?

By asking this question, you’ll give the interviewer an opening to sell the company to you. It will give you insight into perks, culture and potential opportunities for career growth in the organisation. The way they answer this question is equally important (body language, confidence in their answer, a pause or hesitation) will indicate how they feel about the company and what it is like to work there.

Do you feel there is anything we may not have covered regarding my skills and experience that may be a barrier to moving to the next stage?

If you think the interview is going well and you are feeling gutsy, then this is a great way to gain a bit of control. It gives them the opportunity to possibly re-ask a question or seek further clarification, and for you to further sell yourself.

Remember, never ask questions what can be easily found on the company website (this will show a lack of research). Additionally, if this is the first interview, it is never a good idea to ask about pay, hours or benefits. There is a time and place to ask those questions later in the interview process.

Johnathan Maltby is a personal branding and career consultant with proven strategies that empower you to take your career to the next level and beyond. For more information, visit www.johnmaltby.com.au.