3 Types of Questions You Should Ask During an Interview
Whether it’s in-person or online, preparing for an interview is a necessary and sometimes stressful step toward landing the right job. It can be tempting to focus on convincing the company that you’re the perfect candidate for the job in order to increase your chances of securing an offer. While you do need to showcase your value, it’s just as important to find out whether the job is perfect for you!
An interview should flow in both directions, and asking the right questions is an effective way both to demonstrate interest in the role and assess whether the job is a mutual fit. Asking some of the following 3 types of questions will empower you to decide whether the position is right for you.
Company Culture
Find out whether the company’s social & professional climate aligns with what’s important to you. You should already know the company’s mission and core values before you go in, and your interview is an opportunity to learn more about how those values are actually applied in policies and day-to-day decision-making.
Some of these questions will likely be answered naturally during the initial stages of the interview, so choose carefully which ones will be most useful to ask – you want to show you’re paying attention, as well as motivated enough to dig below the surface.
Ask questions like:
- How would you describe the company culture?
- How would you describe the leadership style here?
- What can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
- What is the approach to work-life balance like?
- Do the teams tend to work independently or do they work closely with each other?
- Does the company hold any employee events?
- How are decisions made in high-pressure situations?
- How is conflict handled?
- Are professional development resources available?
- Are there opportunities for advancement?
Passion for the Company
Ask some questions to feel out the interviewer’s own enthusiasm for the company. How they react will give you an intuitive sense for their overall engagement and satisfaction as a current employee. You’ll also be able to assess whether the interviewer’s responses seem to align with what you’ve learned about the company culture.
Bear in mind that responses could be influenced if others are present; you’re more likely to get a candid answer if the interview is one-on-one. Note the interviewer’s body language and tone when asked this type of question—responses that feel natural, free-flowing, and receptive are probably genuine green flags, while signs of uneasiness can suggest the interviewer feels conflicted in speaking positively about their experience with the company. Some interviewers may simply be uncomfortable having the focus shifted to them personally; regardless, take any tension surrounding these questions as a signal it’s best to change direction and keep the interview moving.
You can ask things like:
- What made you decide to work here?
- How would you describe your experience working here?
- What do you love about working here?
- What would other employees say is the best thing about working here?
- What is your favorite thing about working for the company?
Role Clarity
Remember to ask about specific elements of the position itself. Digging into finer points of the role and what success looks like for the position shows your sincere interest and a focus beyond simply getting the job. Asking these questions also provides an opportunity to relay your skills and knowledge well by relating them to the measurements of performance.
Answers to these questions should equip you to feel confident about next steps and expectations; vague answers or outright evasions can suggest issues with processes and planning surrounding the job.
You can ask things like:
- What does the training roadmap for this position look like?
- What should a successful candidate accomplish in the first 30 to 90 days in this position?
- When and how is feedback given and received?
- What will be the biggest challenge for the person who fills this position?
- Where have successful employees previously in this position moved on to?
- Why is this position available?
Asking these 3 types of questions in your next job interview will make it easier to land the role you want, not just a role you’re qualified to fill. To smooth out the process of finding your dream job, eHire’s recruiters are here to match your tech talents to the right company for you. To discover more about how we personally pair highly-skilled candidates with the perfect opportunities, contact us today.