You’ve secured an interview for a job, you’ve brushed up on your interview etiquette––your attire, your handshake, your responses––so now what? The key to a good interview is not only being prepared to answer all of your interviewer’s questions but being able to pose some of your own.
When you’re vying for a competitive position, asking the right questions can really make or break your success. Asking questions that are unique, genuine, and thought-provoking for the employer can make you stand out compared to other candidates. Here are some of the best questions we’ve gathered to ask employers at your next interview.
Is there anything about my resume or experience you’d like me to clarify or go over?
Remember that interviews are opportunities to sell yourself to potential employers. Without rambling or going on tangents, keeping the conversation of an interview going for as long as possible gives you a chance to really make sure employers get to know you and you’re standing out as a candidate. Because you’ll typically be asked if you have questions at the end of your interview, take this as an opportunity to make sure your interviewer knows all of the information they need. Asking this question can give you a chance to further talk about your experiences and clear up any potentially confusing information.
What do you value most in your employees?
Asking a question like this shows that you’re a candidate who wants to work well with a company on a team level. This is beneficial because it allows you to get a feel for the operations of the company you’re interviewing for and how to make improvements so that you are an ideal candidate. A question like this also shows your interviewer that you care not only about the content and salary of the position you’re applying for, but also how you’ll further their success as a team.
How does your organization manage conflict?
Posing this question at the end of an interview is beneficial because it allows you and your potential employer to discuss an area of the company’s work culture that will likely arise. If you are made an offer for a position, you want to know exactly what your expectations will be and how your company will handle situations of high stress and conflict. From an employer’s perspective, asking this question shows that you are someone who thinks ahead to avoid and mediate any potential issues.
How do I compare to your ideal candidate for this position? What can I improve on to fulfill that goal?
Asking a question like this in an interview can make you stand out because it shows a willingness to improve. Finding out exactly what an employer is looking for and what values they are attracted to allows you to more efficiently choose what you want to highlight about yourself. Asking how what you’ve laid out in this interview and your application compares to what can give you insight into where you stand and how likely you are to get an offer while expressing to your interviewer your desire to work hard to become their ideal candidate.
Do you have any hesitations about me that I can explain further?
This question allows you to get a status update on how you’re doing in the application while still in the process. If you have made mistakes in your interview or were unclear about your experiences, asking this question allows you to keep advocating for yourself. If you are not a good fit for the company you’re interviewing for, asking this question will provide feedback that can assist you in the future.
How would you describe your company’s work culture? What is your perfect ratio for work/life balance?
Before accepting a job offer, it’s a good idea to learn more about the company’s work culture. Depending on who is interviewing you, this is an opportunity to gain honest insight into how your goals and ideal work situation will pair with that of the company you’re applying to. Knowing this information beforehand will allow you to plan how your life and current work/life balance may shift if you accept this role.
What does the day-to-day look like for someone in this position? How has this position evolved?
During your interview, an interviewer may go into the details of the position you’re applying to with general tasks and assignments. If you want further clarification, asking about the day-to-day tasks will show that you’re interested in accepting this position if an offer is made, and will give you a greater scope of what life will be like with this position. Asking about the evolution of the position you’re applying to is also important because it allows you to fully understand the importance of this role while being able to project how it can grow and evolve in the future.
How do you evaluate the success of your employees?
Depending on your company or industry, success can be measured in many different ways. It’s imperative to understand how your success will be measured in the position your applying to, and whether this is something that will work for you. Establishing how your success will be considered also opens up the opportunity to discuss implementing periodic performance evaluations into your contract if you’re made an offer. This can allow you to keep track and ask for a raise in the future if warranted.