The 5 Best Questions to Ask a Potential Employer

We've all been in an interview, whether looking for a job or looking for a new team member, and had that awkward moment at the end. You know the bit I mean. The awkward silence when they ask "so do you have any questions for us?". A silence falls across the room and, rather than taking this great opportunity to both impress the employer and find out all you need to know, you just say "no I think that's covered everything".

It's natural at this point to want to end on a high note and there can sometimes seem to be an expectation on you not to drag the interview out. This is a wasted opportunity in my opinion as I believe this is the perfect chance to delve into the really important and potentially game changing elements of the business and the role.

So I have put together 5 questions that will help to break down the stuffy back and forth nature of the interview process and open up some really significant dialogue.

1. What has the most successful person in this role had that other, less successful employees didn't?

This question shows the employer from the outset that you want to emulate the most successful person in the business and to learn their successful traits. It will also give you valuable insight into how the managers assess their staff and manage employees.

2. What would a successful first six months look like for somebody in this role?

With this question you are helping to align expectations and to get the employer to really think about what they want from you in the role. Again, it will help you to understand more about the role and your suitability as well as the management's understanding of the position.

3. What is the hardest part of this role?

By asking this you will find out a lot about the honesty and transparency of the management. If you receive a 'positive negative', such as "people love the job so much it eats into family time" you may have some alarm bells around the honesty of your interviewer. Of course, if you do get a negative answer it will help you to assess whether the role is for you.

4. Why do people leave the business?

Very similar to the above question this will give you an insight into the business and the people interviewing you. An honest and frank answer will help to assess the business and your compatibility. An evasive answer may leave you questioning their motives.

5. What will my first week in the role look like?

The reasons for asking this are two-fold. Firstly, by using somewhat assumptive language you are putting the interviewers in the mindset that you are already working with the business. They are forced to visualise you within the role and that can be a very powerful tool. This will also allow you to understand the on-boarding process and how well organised this is. Do you have an induction? Do you get a feel for the whole business? Do you get a mentor in the role? All of these are vital pointers in understanding the business you may be working for.

So there are some ideas for some good, probing end of interview questions. There are hundreds of others I'm sure so please tell me your favourite question to ask in the comments below.