Here are some ideas for questions you can ask to impress a potential future employer. These questions, asked at the right time in your interview, will help highlight your strengths and give you a valuable insight into the company.
“What would my first project be if I'm recruited?”
This will give you a very good idea of what you can expect when you walk into the office on that very first day if you get this job. On the other hand, it will give you an idea as to what they realistically expect of you and whether you can meet those expectations. If so, this is also your chance to sell yourself based around those expectations and tell them why you can make a success of this project.
“What will be the exact job responsibilities?”
Job advertisements and descriptions can be a little vague– they list the responsibilities for a position, but can lack detail. This question will clear up any confusion you may have and tell you exactly what the job will entail. It also shows your interest in finding out more about the job. It’s always a good idea to clear this part up as you need to make sure you’re there for the right job – not one that you would be bored of in a week, or one that is not going to take you in the career direction you aim to be going in.
“What is the organisation’s culture?”
The ‘culture’ of a company is the difference between you loving where you work and hating it. It’s also the difference between fitting in and not fitting in. This question will reveal the environment and day-to-day running of a company. Some of us need a relaxed working environment where we can do flexi-hours, wear casual clothes or have music on as we work. For others, there could be nothing more horrifying. Each of us knows what type of environment will keep us motivated and focussed on the job and it’s important to know your new employer is able to provide the right environment for you to perform at your best.
“How do you see me benefiting the company?”
This is a real good chance for you to sell yourself. The interviewers will tell you what caught their eye about you and you can expand on these qualities and give them a reason to offer you the job.
“What promotion opportunity does this position offer?”
This is a great question to let the firm know you’re thinking about long-term opportunities. It gives you an idea of whether you can build a long-term career there or not and will tell you if this is a employer that wants to help further your career.
“Why did you choose to work with this company?”
This is a great chance to see whether the interviewer gets passionate about the company. If they don’t they can’t expect you to either. It should, if answered correctly, give you an insight into the strengths of the firm and the opportunities it can provide.
“Is further education and training stressed?”
Companies are changing all the time and if we don’t change with them as individuals, we could find ourselves out of a job. This question shows you are adaptable to change and willing to learn and that you’re not rigid in what you can and are willing to do.
“What is the structure of the department?”
It is important to know this. You need to know whom you’ll be reporting to, whether you’ll have anyone reporting in to you and what his or her job is. It will also give you the chance to scope out your career path.
“When will a decision be made on the successful candidate?”
This will give you an idea of when the decision will be made so if you don’t hear anything by that time, you know you need to make a follow-up call to someone.
“Can I contact you if I have other questions?”
It’s always good to make this the final question of your interview. It keeps the door open for further communication, giving you one last chance to sell yourself. When in an interview, you can get caught up the whole experience and forget important questions. This question leaves the door open for you to ask later.
Finally, all that is left to say, as always…Good Luck!
