An interview, first and foremost, is a conversation. A conversation dedicated to figuring out if you’re the right person for the available position at a company. Not only does the employer want to know about your experience and abilities, but it’s also time for you as the prospective employee to figure out what exactly the position entails and if you’re really up for it. When you ask these questions you also show your potential employer that you are genuinely interested in the company and are actually considering what it would be like to work there. But how do you know what to ask in a job interview?
It’s important to ask your potential employer what you really and truly want to know about the job. Of course, this is after having read the job description and paying full attention to what the interviewer has already said about the position. There’s a chance some of your questions will be covered during the first part of the interview, so it’s important to pay close attention and not ask anything that’s already been discussed.
Potential employers will like to hear that you’re interested in growing as a professional and see yourself developing skills while contributing to the company.
This will help clarify what exactly your prospective boss is looking for in their employee. It will also show them you’re taking the position very seriously and are not afraid to get specific.
This will help you figure out if you’re interviewing for a company you really want to work for, based on how your interviewee answers. Are those benefits that also interest you?
If you can ask this early in the interview, the response will be good to keep in mind as you answer questions about your background and experience. Make yourself as close to the ideal candidate as possible (while remaining truthful, of course).
This question will help you get a better idea of what the hardest part of the job actually entails and whether or not it’s something you’re really up for.
This is a ballsy question, but if you’re feeling up to it, the answer will allow you to defend any weaknesses in your CV and convince the interviewer you’re the person they want.
This kind of question is good for establishing when you can expect to hear back about the interview and how you should prepare yourself in the case of more interviews or another hiring stage. You also may get a better picture of whether or not they are interested in continuing with you as a candidate.
Photo 1. based on Beast of a Job Interview, after Walter Crane, by Mike Licht, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. based on Alex France – Uni interview today at Huddersfield [Day 23], by Alex France, CC-by-2.0