Questions to Ask Your Job Interviewer

At the end of a job interview there is usually a chance to ask your employer some questions about the business. Many of us, when we are not prepared, simply go blank and quickly attempt to think of decent question to ask – this is no way the best way to come across professional!

With careful planning and an understanding of the company you are intending to work for you can ask questions which will show you as interested, intelligent and engaged. It is possible that you will find out everything you could want to know during the interview itself – but there is always something else you could ask!

Role Based Questions

There are a few questions which you can ask which will help you fully understand your role such as:

•    Why has the position become available? – this is useful for determining the work environment you may be entering.
•    What are the main responsibilities and objectives of the role? – if this has not been clarified thus far it would probably be the best time to do it.
•    How is success measured? – this should let you know how the company measures success and how you will be measured against it.
•    What kind of development and support can I expect from the company? – this will let you know if they have any in-house education programs or whether there is any funding for further training.
•    What is the team structure of the company and how do I fit into it? – this question is designed to further find out about the position you are entering and its relation to others in the company.

Company Based Questions

Asking questions about the company and your role in it will be the first thing on your mind when an interview has gone well. Asking about the way the company is run is a good way to judge whether you will be happy in the offered role:

•    What does the organization expect from its employees? – this should be the green light for your potential employer to give you the company’s main message to its employees.
•    How are good relationships assured in this company? – this is a question about the higher levels of management and their practices, it should give you an insight into how “hands on” they are.
•    What is the staff turnover like? – this is a good question to know the answer to! If the average employee only lasts 18 months then you might find you are walking into a potentially hostile environment.
•    Are there any plans for expansion? – this will give you an indication of what future prospects there are within the company, an expanding company is one which it is easier to rise in.

Finally, asking questions specific to the company will show your engagement and research skills.

With all these questions you simply need to judge your interviewers reaction and decide, if you get offered the job, whether this is the company for you.