Prior to an interview it is always an important step in your preparation to create a list of questions to ask your interviewer. Sometimes you will be able to ask questions throughout the interview, other times it is best to hold your questions until the end of the interview. Either way, having a list of questions for the interviewer is a must for any job seeker. Asking questions in an interview not only shows the interviewer your high level of interest in the position, but can also provide you with more detail about the job and company culture. Questions for the interviewer are also a great opportunity for you to address any concerns they may have about your experience related to the job.
When developing a list of questions for an interview, it is important to remember to not ask any questions that could be answered by viewing the company website; this would come off as lazy and a lack of interest since you did not take the time to review the website. Additionally, you should avoid asking self-serving questions about hours, benefits, time off, etc. These topics are okay to discuss if the interviewer brings them up however, they should not be the focus of your questions.
To make it easier for you, we have compiled a list below of what we, as recruiters, feel are the “Top 5 Questions” to ask in an interview, as well as the reason why they are important questions and how they can help you to land your dream job. Enjoy!
- What does your ideal candidate look like for this position? This question will allow you to get more insight into what the interviewer’s most important traits are for the position. It can help you better understand the main responsibilities of the role and possibly learn more about the culture and what a good personality fit would be for the team. You can in turn use this information to help highlight your specific and relevant traits that would make you a great fit for the position.
- What do you see as the greatest challenge(s) the person in the role will face? This question will allow the interviewer to give you real insight into the position beyond the day to day tasks. By understanding the challenges of the position, you can best determine if it is going to be a good match to what you are looking for. If applicable, this would be a good time to share any similar challenges you have faced in previous roles and how you handled them.
- What does success look like in this role? If hired into the position, you will want to know when you are being “successful”. Most new positions can take anywhere between 2 weeks to 6 months to get up to speed, so it is important that if hired into the position you know the expectations and you make sure to hit those milestones.
- Do you see any reason why I would not be a good fit for this position? While many who interview do not feel comfortable asking this question, it is one of the most vital questions to ask in an interview. If you ask this question and do receive any concerns from the manager it is a great, last chance, to share with them why you would be the best candidate for the position. For example, if the interviewer says they are concerned that you do not have a certain skill required for the position tell them about a skill you did not have before you started your last position but how instead of letting it hold you back you took it as an opportunity to learn and quickly become proficient in that skill set.
- What are the next steps in the interview process and when can I expect to hear back? These are questions that many candidates forget to ask but that are very helpful in setting realistic expectations for feedback. Sometimes the interview process can take longer than one would expect and therefore it is always helpful to have the interviewer share these timelines to allow yourself to plan accordingly.
Author:
Katelyn Miller is a Senior Recruiter with RCS Corporation.
For more information about interviews or job opportunities, contact Katelyn at kmiller@rcscorporation.com.