Good Questions to Ask in an Interview

Having some good questions ready during (and even after) an interview can show your potential employer how insightful and interested you are. And, the answers to these questions can help you decide if this new position is a good fit for you and worth pursuing. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your list of questions.

On the Job

Questions about the specifics of the job will help you learn more about the day-to-day aspects of the role.

1.      What will the first six months in this job look like in terms of responsibilities?

2.      What are the keys to succeeding in this role?

3.      Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives I’d be directly involved in?

4.      What are the most important skills for this position?

5.      Is there anything beyond the job description important to this role?

A Company Snapshot

Asking questions around the company can give you insight into its financial health, upcoming opportunities or potential business model changes.

1. Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?

2. What’s the reporting structure of this group? How many employees are there?

3. What do you enjoy most about working here?

4. How does the company measure success?

5. Is there anything we haven’t covered that would be helpful for me to know about working here?

The Interview Process

Collecting information on the actual interview process will give you the opportunity to understand their process, timeline and expectations of candidates.

1.      What’s the next step in the process?

2.      Are there any hesitations about my qualifications you’d like me to address?

3.      What’s the timeline for making a decision and someone starting?

It’s important to gauge your interviewer’s available time and plan the amount of questions to ask accordingly. There‘s no correct number of questions to ask, but in my experience, five to seven is a good number to stick to. It may be helpful to write down your questions ahead of time, so you can stay focused during the interview. These few questions could be the first step to landing your new job!