Published By: Mercer Match
Interview Questions YOU Should Ask
Turning the tables
Asking interview questions may not occur to you especially if you get so wrapped up in the interview process that you simply forget. Or you think you should wait for the interviewer to ask if you have any — they almost always do, then play it by ear. Not a great strategy — the best advice is to be prepared.
Having thoughtful interview questions shows you’ve done your due diligence and helps distinguish you from other candidates. Here are some interview questions you should bring with you to the interview.
What will you expect in the first six to 12 months?
This question establishes a benchmark for success. It also tells you whether your potential employer has realistic expectations for the position or is setting the bar too high. If you can reasonably handle their expectations, that’s great. If not, you may want to let the opportunity pass.
How does the company measure success?
This question relates to the question above in that it identifies how your progress will be measured. Ask about the specific things you’ll need to accomplish to be a successful employee.
What do you like and dislike about working for this organization?
These interview questions will help you gain valuable insight into the corporate culture. Can the interviewer give you a solid reason why they’re excited to be part of the organization? If not, that’s a red flag.
How did the position become available?
Transparency is a mark of a strong organization, and you don’t want to enter – or leave – an interview completely ignorant of the situation. You’ll want to know whether it’s a newly-created position (perhaps a sign of an expanding company), or whether the previous individual was fired. You may discover that several people have filled the role within the last six months – which is another red flag.
How is the role important to the growth of the company?
You should use this question to explore your expected level of engagement. Will you be playing a high-impact or low-impact role? Is it a position with high visibility within the company? Or, are you comfortable playing a behind-the-scenes role?
What is the company's mission?
Studies have shown that employees are happy and satisfied when their goals align with the organization’s goals. Asking this interview question will let you know whether you, the interviewer, and the company desire the same things.
What resources are available?
There’s nothing wrong with an organization having high expectations for the position but will they provide the resources, technology, funds, and manpower necessary to help you succeed?
Who will my colleagues be?
If other potential team members are included in the interview, then ask this question to gain insight into the personalities and team dynamics you’ll be a part of every day. Are they people you would enjoy working with on a daily basis?
Are there additional skills i'll need to succeed?
Every job comes with a required skill-set, but there may be other skills that are appropriate for the position – the so-called “soft” skills.
What's the next step?
Last, but certainly not least, ask for details about the hiring process. Is it a matter of days, or weeks, before they decide on a candidate? Asking interview question indicates that you aren’t afraid to take the initiative, and prefer deadlines.
A vague answer isn’t a good sign because it may mean that they already have a candidate in mind, or that the interview didn’t go all that well. If they’re truly transparent, however, they’ll give you a reasonable time frame.
This article was first published on Mercer Match Blog, on 29 June 2017. Information is correct at the time of publication.