Last Updated on August 9, 2024
Getting interviewed for a job can be hard on the nerves, especially if you’re going through it for the first time. Preparation is key: anticipate possible questions and be ready to ask questions, too. Think of the job interview as a conversation where you and the interviewer try to get to know each other.
The interviewer might be on the steering wheel but will likely give you the chance to speak your mind. When that happens, take it. You need to know if the job and the organization will help you achieve your career goals.
Here are some powerful questions to ask during an interview.
Interview Questions To Ask Employers
Need-to-Know Questions
‘Need-to-know’ questions can give information related to the job itself. Know what the organization expects of its employees and what you can expect of the organization.
Find out what kind of environment you’ll be working in.
1. Could you describe your organization’s culture?
e.g., What values shape your policies? How much employee collaboration occurs in different units or at different levels of the organization?
2. What would I be expected to achieve in the first six months to one year in this position?
3. What indicators do you look for to measure employee success in this position?
4. Do you have an on-boarding system for new hires?
5. Whom would I be reporting to in this position?
If you’re applying for a leadership role, find out also whom you are expected to oversee.
6. Will I be part of a team or collaborating with any other units in the organization?
(You can follow this up with: Who would comprise the team? Which units would I be collaborating with?)
7. Are there instances when employees are expected to be available outside of official work hours, and what would those instances be?
8. What problems or challenges have been faced by those who held this position before?
(You can follow this up with: What challenges might I expect when you hire me for this role?)
9. Have there been changes in responsibilities in this position over time?
(If a role hasn’t evolved at all consider this a red flag. You could be looking at a dead-end job.)
10. How long do employees typically remain in this position?
(A high turnover rate could indicate high employee dissatisfaction. Consider it a red flag.)
11. How does the organization protect and promote employees’ overall well-being?
(e.g., How does the organization protect and promote employees’ physical and mental health? How does it foster harmony in the workplace? How does it help employees achieve work-life balance? Organizations deeply invested in their employees’ well-being are likely to have a happier and more productive workforce.)
Need-to-Show Questions
‘Need-to-show’ questions are those you ask to demonstrate your interest in the company’s goals and advancement.
1. What were the biggest challenges your organization faced this past year, and how did you deal with them?
(You can follow this up with: What challenges do you anticipate soon?)
2. What are the most important changes or innovations that have taken place in the organization so far?
3. Who are your organization’s biggest competitors, and how do you deal with competition?
4. What is the leadership’s vision for the organization’s future?
5. Could you share your observations and experiences as part of this organization?
(Asking for the interviewer’s perspective further shows your interest in the organization as a whole and your willingness to listen to and learn from others.)
6. Do you have doubts about how I fit in the role based on my background/resume?
Wrap-up Questions
‘Wrap-up’ questions are those you ask as the interview closes.
1. Do you have any more questions for me or anything you need me to explain or clarify further?
2. Is there anything else that you think I should know about working in this organization?
3. When may I expect to hear from you?
Keep these additional pointers in mind:
- Avoid wasting time with questions to which answers are already available elsewhere – ex. company’s website.
- Don’t memorize your questions. The timing and phrasing must fit the context and tone of the interview.
- Questions need not follow a sequence. Go with the flow of the conversation.
- When the interviewer answers, listen carefully. One response may already cover more than one of your queries. Ask follow-ups when needed, but avoid asking what have already been answered.
Answer honestly and clearly. Be polite. Project positivity through smiles, firm handshakes, and an open (but not unrestrained) demeanor.
Preparing for the Job Interview
Research, reflect, and take notes as you go. Gather information on the organization you’re applying to, and the industry to which it belongs. Take a good look at your credentials and personality. Do you think these make you a good fit for the job and the organization?
Polish your interview skills. Recreate an interview set-up with the help of a friend or counsellor. Practice answering and asking questions with them.
Be sure you have accurate information on the date, place, and time of the interview, as well as the name and title of your interviewer.
Pack your ‘interview kit.’ Don’t wait until interview day to do this – stress and nerves can make you forget some things. Put in a single bag copy of your resume, professional references, notepad, pens, your research and reflection notes for a quick pre-interview review.
Dress like a professional. Clothes and shoes should be clean and coordinated; jewelry should be minimal and discreet. Keep shoulders, cleavage, thighs, knees, toes covered. Piercings and tattoos may or may not be acceptable to the organization – play safe and keep these covered.
If the organization’s website carries photos of its employees, you can use these images as your dress code guide. Choose your attire accordingly.
Be your most professional self. Arrive 10-15 minutes before the interview to make a good impression. and compose yourself. Be consistently courteous with everyone in and out of the interview site.
Thank the interviewer. State your interest in the organization and the position you have applied for. But keep this brief and don’t sound like you’re begging for the job.
Wait to hear from the organization. If there’s no word days after the timeline has elapsed, you may follow up by email. But do this only once. No reply at this point likely means they have no interest.
If you are not hired this time, don’t give up. Take what you learned from this experience and continue with your job search. The right job for you may be just around the corner.
You’re all set! Just remember that a job interview is a two-way conversation. Hold up your end of it. You just might land your dream job.
