What questions should you ask at the interview?
by Olevia Yuen - Recruitment Consultant | 14/09/2015
What questions should you ask at the interview?
When preparing for an interview, jobseekers put most of their effort in formulating answers to the interviewer’s questions. What a lot of people forget, is that it’s equally important to prepare questions to ask during the interview. According to a lot of interviewers, not making any inquiries about your job could mean losing your opportunity to another jobseeker who is more inquisitive and proactive.
Companies want to hire people that are genuinely interested in the company and not just interested in having a job. By asking the right questions, you are demonstrating that you are curious about the company and have a strong desire to be part of the team.
Previously in my blog on how to make the best of the “tell us about yourself question , I showed you how to strategize your answers to create a good impression at the interview. In this article, I’m listing some great questions that you should ask to help you stand out more!
Could you give an example of a typical working day? How many people would I be working with? What is the company culture like?
By asking questions about what it is like to work in the office, you gain some insights about what goes on daily in the office, the management style and whether the company culture is suitable for you. This may also open further to topics such as the team you will be working with or what kind of training you will receive and this allows the interviewer to visualize you doing the job.
What areas have people had trouble with in this role in the past? What traits have made someone excel in this role?
Companies hire people that are able to fill in the gap of the company. This question directly addresses the concern of the employer and demonstrates that you are willing to improve and avoid mistakes committed by the previous employee.
Ask about a specific project they are working on right now or have worked on in the past.
This questions shows that you have taken time to research about their company . Make sure you are 100% sure it was their project!
How long have you been working here? Why do you like working for this company?
A lot of interviewers prefer this question because it gives them an opportunity to sell the company. By asking something moderately personal, you may also be able to lighten the atmosphere by allowing the interviewers to talk about themselves. This is especially effective in the creative industry where many people are passionate to discuss about their their work and style.
If you have absolutely have no idea what to ask at the moment, you can always ask the interviewer to elaborate on a topic or issue they have previously mentioned.
The point of asking a question during the interview is to demonstrate that you are interested in the opportunity and have some depth in your personality and experience. Obviously if you are not interested in the role, do not ask any questions.
Of course you should formulate relevant questions depending on the nature of the interview. The rule of thumb is to be prepared to ask questions as much as to prepare to answer questions.
