Job Seekers: Questions to Ask During an Interview

Questions to Ask during an Interview (Job Seekers)

The end of an interview is usually reserved for you to ask questions. While I am sure you have already searched the internet to learn a little about the company and who their competition is, now is the time to gather any additional information you need to determine whether or not this is the job for you.

• Is this a new position? (this helps you determine if the company is growing, has someone been promoted, or if there is turnover…so follow up with the next 2 questions…)
• What happened to the last person who had this job? How long did they hold this job? (the company may be a bit vague if the individual was terminated but inquire as to what aspect of the job description they did not fulfill to expectations)
• Would you describe the duties of the job? (this may have been reviewed during the interview, don’t ask if it was unless you need more specifics)
• Will I work alone or with other people?
• Why have you gone outside the company to fill this position? (will give you good insight to how they hire and what their approach is to promotion from within)
• What are the greatest problems you think I might face in this company?
• Is there anything I can do or study to get a head start on learning this job?
• Why is this company a good place to work?
• How does your company plan to grow or expand in the next few years?
• What can you tell me about new products or services that the company is planning to introduce?
• Is there any probation period? (many companies have an evaluation period up to 1 year where there is no legal, moral or ethical commitment)
• How will my performance be evaluated? (obviously you read the news and there is a lot of talk about ‘pay for performance’…this is my favorite type of set up because it is not based on an employee’s tenure but more on ability and success rate on the job…will you be evaluated every 6 months, annually? If you are offered the job, then you may want to ask if you are eligible for pay increases during the performance evaluation. Best to leave this till after the job offer is extended.)
• How would you characterize the leadership style of the person who supervises this position? (this is the person you are going to have to work with every day…make sure they have they a style that is going to help you be successful in the role.)
• Who will I report to? Will I be meeting with them?
• Can you describe how this job relates to the overall goals of the department and the company?
• What are some of the most important objectives that you would like to see accomplished on this job?
• What is the growth potential within your company starting from this position? (you may have already figured this out based on previous answers…if not a good question to ask)
• Will I be cross-trained for other positions?

Alrighty, the interview is over. You shake hands with the interviewer and thank him/her for the time they spent with you. Keep eye contact. If it has not already been offered to you, ask for their business card.

You may now choose to ask 2 additional questions.

• Am I a serious contender for this position?
• When do you expect to make a hiring decision?

Don’t forget to send a hand written thank you note the same day of the interview. Be professional. If you interviewed with multiple individuals, send a hand written note to each.