Do you know that employers are impressed when job seekers ask them questions?
Yes, they are.
Most employers give job seekers an opportunity to ask questions usually at the end of the interview. Many times, job seekers close that section of the interview with the response: “I don’t have any question”
You may be thinking of getting all the answers to the interview questions the employer will ask you right, but the recruiter sees something else.
When you don’t have a question for the recruiter, the recruiter thinks that:
You are not interested in the job (maybe you just need money, because if you are interested in the job, you will want to know more).
You did not prepare for the interview (this also shows that you are lazy and not intentional about what you want).
Asking the employer some questions during the interview is more helpful to you than stressful. The job interview is not just a time for you to tell the employer that you are the best person for the job.
The job interview process is also a time for you to find out if the company/organization will be a great place for you to thrive.
After all, you don’t want to end up in a job that will make you dread Mondays (Lol).
I know that the job interview can make you really nervous, but the best way to conquer your nerves is to turn the tables around? Yea.
Make the employer answer some questions while you take note of their response. When you do this, you shift the attention away from yourself. (this is the secret many job seekers don’t know)
Even if you can turn the tables around by asking the interviewer some questions, you should also make sure you are asking the right questions.
You don’t want to ask questions that will make the employer want to end the interview immediately. To ensure that you ask the right questions, we created a list of the best questions you should ask an interviewer.
It is good you find out as much as you can about the role and the responsibilities. I know that you must have read the job description before you applied for the job, but you may not get all the information you need about the daily responsibilities.
Use these questions to discover what your employer expects from you:
This question will help you find out what the employer considers as an important attribute of someone that takes the role. You would know if the employer values:
Asking an interviewer this question also paves the way for you to emphasize that you are the best person for the job.
For example, if the interviewer looks out for problem-solving abilities in a prospective hire, then you can use that opportunity to talk about a time that you were able to solve a difficult problem at work.
This is quite similar to the first question. This question will give you a clear picture of the particular skills that the employer requires from someone in the role.
Asking this question gives you the opportunity to evaluate your skills, and discover the ones you need to start working on immediately. You can also determine if you are the best person for the position from the interviewers’ responses.
Asking this question gives the interviewer an idea that you are someone that wants to achieve success in the role if given the opportunity.
3. What does a typical day on this job look like?
This is another important question for you to ask because you may not get the details of the daily responsibilities of the role from the job description.
You can use this question to find out how a typical day will look if you get the job. It will help you discover if you will be required to come up with strategies while carrying other team members along. On the other hand, if there are strict schedules that you would have to follow religiously.
This question gives you an opportunity to find out if the job opportunity is right for you. You can get more details on the role from this question if you are asking the supervisor or manager for that role.
If you are speaking with the HR or a recruiter, then you may not get much detail on the day-to-day running of the business.
This question can appear not to be relevant, but it is equally important. You can discover if the position is one that will work for you or not.
If it is a new position, then it means that the role is not well-defined. Taking up a new position in a company may require that you try your hands on a variety of tasks since the company is not used to the role.
On the other hand, if you replaced someone, then you may want to find out why the person left the job. This question will also help you discover if the company has a low employee retention rate.
A job may not be as easy as you anticipated it to be. Even if you have functioned in a similar role, every role is different in a different company.
The truth is that not everyone can cope with too much stress, what makes candidate A a strong employee can be the breaking point for candidate B.
This question will help you know the kind of challenges that you will likely face in the position. Maybe you will have to deal with tight deadlines, unusual work hours, unrealistic expectations, etc.
As much as this question can help you to discover if you can cope with the job, it is also an opportunity for you to sell yourself as the best fit by talking about how you were able to overcome challenges in your previous job.
The interviewer’s response to this question will give you an idea of what the employer expects from you in the first few months.
This will also give you a structure that you can work with to achieve success and growth while you add value to the organization.
This question shows the interviewer that you are interested in the role and company hence your reason for wanting to know more.
Asides from the fact that this question puts you in a positive light in the eyes of the employer, it also gives you the opportunity to discover whether or not the company is a place that you can thrive.
You don’t want to work in a place that you don’t quite fit into.
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CAREER GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT
Your career growth and development is something that you should take seriously. According to statistics, 87% of employees take their career growth/ development important.
Many surveys have revealed that many job candidates consider career growth/ development as a criterion for accepting a job offer. You should do the same too.
You don’t want a job that will limit you to routine tasks. If you are looking to get a job that can turn into a life-long career, then you should ask these questions.
This is an important question to ask especially if you have a clear plan of where you want to see your career in years to come.
This question will help you discover if the job will be one that will keep you glued to your desk for hours without any growth prospects for the future.
When you are looking to land a job in a company, it is important that you consider if the job is one that will help you develop new skills or move up the company’s ladder.
It is good that you ask the recruiter if the company provide training opportunities. It is the dream of every job seeker to become better than how they were when they joined the company.
You don’t want to be stuck with the same skills that landed you the job for years. You should look forward to getting a job that will boost your skills and eventually help you achieve success both within and outside the organization.
10. Does the company review performance? How often does this happen
If you want to grow fast within an organization, then it is good you find out if it is possible. One of the ways you can know that you are growing is through a performance review.
A performance review will help you know if you are doing well, or the areas that you need to improve on. Having a good performance review can come with a benefit of a bonus, pay raise, or even a promotion based on the company’s policy.
This question will help you find out if the company recognizes efforts and excellence.
This is an important question for you to ask if you are looking forward to career growth in your new job. If successful people in that role have moved to bigger positions within the company, then it is a sign that there is room for growth in your position.
If people that have been successful in that role usually leave for a bigger opportunity somewhere else, then your stay in the company may be short-termed.
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TEAM
Just like employers look forward to hiring job candidates that will work well in a team, you should also find out the kind of team that you would be a part of.
You should find out who your potential co-workers are, and how it would be like to work with them.
This is an important question for you to ask especially if the role that you are looking to get requires that you work closely with team members.
You would want to find out how you can effectively get along with your team members to get the job done. Even if the role requires you to work independently, you want to know what to expect in your prospective work environment with other people.
Depending on the role, you may be required to report to your team lead, line- manager, or manager directly. Asking this question will help you have a feel of how you would be sending your daily/weekly reports.
If your prospective manager is interviewing you, then this gives you an opportunity to know some things about the manager.
There is a high chance that you would have to work closely with co-workers in other departments. Based on your role, you may have to work with the HR, marketing, sales, or other departments.
Knowing the department(s)that you may likely work closely with can help you prepare your mind for the job ahead. Your previous experience in a similar role can help you achieve more in your new job.
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
Creating a rapport and building a good first impression during your job interview is important, and this is what this question will help you achieve.
When you ask the interviewers some questions, it helps you feel more comfortable with the entire process. You also get an idea of what it feels like to work in the company.
This appears to be a common question, but it sure reveals some important things that you need to know about the job.
If the interviewer has been working there for a long time, then it shows that the company may have a good employee retention rate. If the interviewer reveals how they have grown to get to that position in that company, then it shows that there is a prospect of career growth in the company.
Whether or not you are going to have a great time in a company depends on the company's policies. If the company cares about the welfare of its employees by providing; health insurance, benefit, perks, etc. then it might be a great place.
Even if the interviewer will likely not tell you negative things about the company, the interviewer's response and body language can give you an idea of what to expect.
When you ask this question, it will give you an idea of what it takes to become successful in the company if hired.
This question will also help you get insight into the efforts that you can put into achieving success in the role if you get hired. You will also discover what the company considers as success, and otherwise.
As the interview ends, you would want to leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. One of the ways that you can do that is to ask questions about the next steps of the interview.
Asking questions about the next steps of the interview shows your interest in the company.
When you ask the interviewer when you should expect to hear back from them, it shows that you are enthusiastic about the role and cannot wait to be a part of the company.
Most times, employers will get back to you at least one week after the interview. Asking this question gives you an idea of when you should expect to hear back.
When you ask the interviewer this question, it will give the interviewer the idea that you are indeed ready to work with the organization.
Having an idea of the resumption date will give you the opportunity to prepare in time
This is usually the last question. This question will give you an idea of whether or not the company is considering other candidates.
This question also shows the interviewer that you are willing to pursue a role in the company, and you are also willing to take the next steps.
Knowing the next steps will also help you prepare before the time.
These are not the only questions that you can ask an interviewer. You can add other questions based on the position.
The interview section is not an interrogation section. It is also an opportunity for you to find out if the company will be a great place for you to thrive.
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