20+ Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash
There are two kinds of questions you can ask in an interview: ones that win you the job, and ones that help you assess if you actually want the job. Here’s some in both categories that will instantly make you stand out from the other candidates, and ensure you don’t get stuck in a job you hate.
Questions that get at the heart of company culture.
In a phrase, how would you describe the culture of your company?
What do people within the organization love about working here?
What are you most proud of about the company? (How they choose to answer this question speaks VOLUMES about what that company truly values.)
Share a story about one of your favorite days at work.
What was one of the most recent team events you did together?
Questions that help you get a feel for if the role is right for you.
How is success in this role defined? How is it measured?(i.e. how do you know if you’re doing a good job?)
What would an average day in this role look like?
How long did the individual in this role previously stay?
Where have individuals in this role progressed to in the past? (i.e. is there a growth path in this role?)
If the role is new: What were the needs in the company that made you decide to create this position?
Questions that give you an idea of team dynamics within the company.
Who will I be reporting to directly?
Who will I work with most closely?
How is feedback in this company given/received?
What is the [team you’d be working on]’s biggest challenge?
What skill gaps on the team are you hoping to fill with this role?
Questions that show you care about the interests of the company.
Where do you see this company in five years?
In follow up: What are your current roadblocks to getting there?
What makes you most excited about where this company is going?
Who is the company’s top competitor, and why?
Questions that make you indispensable.
I saw on your website that [fill-in-the-blank], but I want to know more about [impressive clarifying question here].
What are the most crucial tasks in this role you’d hope to see accomplished in the first month? Three months? Year?
What part of your role takes the most of your time?
How would you use that time elsewhere if you could?