Questions Job Seekers should ask during a Job Interview
Did you just get asked to come in for an interview? Congratulations! Whether you are interviewing with your dream company for a dream position or just trying to get a job to make ends meet while you're working towards other goals, you will need to show interest in the position. It is not enough to want the job-you must show the interviewer that, whether or not it is the truth, you care about the company, want to have a future with the company, and are avidly interested in position for which you applied.
If the company is your dream company, chances are you already know what to say and how you want to say it; however, if you are nervous about blowing your big chance, don't know what to say, or want to appear interested in the position even though you'd rather have a root canal, these questions may help you get your foot in the door or help you realize that perhaps this position isn't right for you:
1. What days and hours would I be working?
This question is important because it provides a framework for the position. If you must arrange child care, housework, and other necessary events around your work schedule, you must know when you are expected to work.
2. What is the dress code?
Dress codes are very important to companies. Employees are the "face" of their companies, and companies want to put their best face forward to all clients at all times. Knowing the dress code ahead of time allows you to dress appropriately for your job, whether you wear a suit or cut-offs.
3. Will there be instances of overtime?
Again, knowing what to expect with your work schedule will allow you to plan ahead for various contingencies. If you want to work overtime, it is helpful to know whether or not the company has a strict "no overtime" policy.
4. Will I be working as an individual or as part of a team?
Some people enjoy working alone, while others prefer working with others towards a common goal. Whether you can't stand sharing the kudos for your work or feel intimidated by the idea of working alone on a project, it is good to know ahead of time what your potential employer will expect of you.
5. What equipment, tools, or programs will I be using for this position?
Being familiar and comfortable with the equipment that a company uses on a day-to-day basis will make your work life less stressful. If the company uses equipment, tools, or programs that are unfamiliar to you, you must decide if you would like the opportunity to pick up new skills, or if you would prefer to stick to what you already know.
6. What opportunities for advancement are available?
If you are content having a single position for the rest of your career, this question probably won't mean much to you; however, if you would like the chance to advance to positions with more responsibility, power, or pay, it is important to know what avenues will be open to you in the future if you accept the position.
7. How many people work in this office/department?
Regardless of how one feels about sharing workspace, it is good to have at least a rough estimate of the amount of people sharing an office or department.
8. To whom will I report in this position?
If you know who your immediate supervisor will be before starting a new position, you will know who to go to first with questions or concerns regarding your position. Obtaining the name of your potential immediate supervisor will also give you the opportunity to research him or her and familiarize yourself with his or her credentials, interests, and management style, depending on the research you can gather.
9. Who will review my performance? How often?
More often than not, this person will be your immediate supervisor, but it never hurts to ask. Again, by obtaining a name, you may be able to discover the standards that your reviewer adheres to, and whether the reviewer does everything "by the book" or is a little more accommodating of extenuating circumstances.
10. May I have a tour of the building/department/office?
Familiarizing yourself with the office may help to take away those first-day jitters, and it may also help you to become more familiar with office protocol. For example, some companies are located in buildings with security officers on the first floor. A tour will help you become familiar with the security procedures, which will enable you to get through security expeditiously every morning.
11. What motivated you to work for/create this company?
This question will allow the interviewer to share some of his or her feeling about the company. Every interviewer to whom I have asked this question seemed to be flattered that I cared enough about her company to ask her why she decided to for it.
12. What do you like best about working for this company? What do you like least about this company?
Surprisingly enough, some interviewers are very straightforward about what they feel are advantages and disadvantages of working for a company, especially if they don't interview candidates very often. Most interviewers, however, will paint the rosiest picture possible regarding their experience with a company-remember, they WANT you to come work for them! They typically don't want to drop the slightest hint that there is any room at all for improvement in their company. To be fair, though, a good listener can pick up on verbal and visual cues to determine whether or not the interviewer is truly happy working for his or her company.
13. What is the biggest challenge that your company is facing at this time?
If the interviewer is familiar with strategic planning, he or she might give you an outline of some of the challenges that the company is facing. If not, you may have to use hints from your previous research of the company as well as comments made by the interviewer in order to get some idea of the challenges the company is facing. You can then use the opportunity to let the interviewer know how you can help the company triumph over those challenges, whether you do so within the interview or through a follow up or thank you letter to the interviewer.
14. Do you have any questions or concerns regarding my qualifications?
This question allows the interviewer to address any areas of concern regarding your qualifications, especially if you aren't a perfect match for their ideal candidate for the position. If the interviewer does raise some concerns regarding your qualifications, you can use the opportunity to show the interviewer that your experience, education, or skills can easily be adapted to suit the needs of the company.
15. Would you like a copy of my resume and/or references?
If you have not previously submitted a resume or references to the company, it is good to at least offer them to the interviewer. Your resume serves as a reminder of the assets that you will bring to the company, and your references are witnesses to your abilities and potential in the position for which you are being interviewed.
16. What is the next step in the hiring process?
This a good question to ask at the close of an interview. It shows that you are interested in the position, and it allows you to find out more about how the hiring process works for the company without sounding pushy or desperate. In most cases, the interviewer will outline the steps of the hiring process, including an estimate of the date that the company will make their hiring decision for the position. If you need to know the estimated hire date and the interviewer doesn't specifically provide that information, ask!
This list of questions is by no means all-inclusive. For some positions, you may need to ask more questions, and for others, you may need to ask fewer questions. The most important part is to ask these questions in a manner that doesn't leave your interviewer feeling like she's a heretic being questioned by the Grand Inquisitor. In addition, you should always ask the questions from the perspective of someone who already has the position ("How would I carry out this duty? What would I be required to do in this situation?").
You wouldn't have been asked to come in for an interview if the company didn't think you couldn't do the job! Be confident, courteous, interested, and enthusiastic, and you're sure to make a good impression on your interviewer.
