25 questions to ask during your next job interview
Preparation is the separation.
Taking into consideration the most asked questions during a job interview and preparing yourself for them, is what separates the well-spoken applicant where the interview progresses smoothly from the person who’s hesitating and comes across as insecure and not really knows what he or she wants.
That is one part.
And unlike interviews on TV, job interviews shouldn’t be one-sided. You being a good fit with the company you’re interviewing for is equally important as whether the company is a good fit for you.
Nobody benefits of an employee who is unhappy. Not the company, not your colleagues, nor the company itself.
But how to find out if there is magic in the air? By asking questions yourself. About the culture, about the person who’s interviewing you, about the company and the vision.
Or when the inevitable question comes: “Do you have any questions for us?” this list got you covered.
If the person interviewing you is really passionate about the company (as the person who does interviews should be), he or she should be able to answer most of these questions and give you a good understanding of where you will end up when you take the job.
Questions about the job itself
First, make sure you have a good picture of the day-to-day responsibilities of the job — both now and in the future.
- What does a typical day look like?
- Can you show me examples of projects I’d be working on?
- What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?
- What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?
- What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?
- What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
Questions to Ask About the Interviewer
Genuine interest in a person can get you a long way. It is a form of flattery not many people can resist. Now, of course, it is not the goal to charm yourself through the door but we are still humans. And if one human likes another human the conversation is different. It is also a good way to already get to know someone at the company you are trying to work for.
7. How long have you been with the company?
8. Has your role changed since you’ve been here?
9. What did you do before this?
10. Why did you join this company?
11. What is your favorite part about working here?
Questions to Ask About the Company
An organization is about much more than your day-to-day-to-do list. To get a complete picture you might want to know part of the companies history and its future plans.
12. I know the company is X year’s old but can you tell me more about… the starting phase, how the name came to be, the thoughts behind the logo etc.?
13. Where do you see this company in the next few years?
14. What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?
15. What gets you most excited about the company’s future?
Questions to Ask About the Culture
At Story of AMS we value culture a lot. So much even that we value culture fit above skill. We believe skill can be taught with the right growth mindset, starting from a certain level of knowledge of course. Someone who is a culture fit is way more likely to go the extra mile and invest time and effort in their own development. And above all, goes to work wearing a smile.
“Culture is simply a shared way of doing something with a passion.” – Brian Chesky, Co-Founder, CEO, Airbnb
16. How would you describe the work environment here — is the work typically collaborative or more independent?
17. Can you tell me about the last team event you did together?
18. Is there a formal mission statement or company values? (Note: Make sure this isn’t on the website!)
19. What do you and the team usually do for lunch?
20. Does anyone on the team sometimes work outside the office?
21. What’s different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked?
22. How has the company changed since you joined?
Questions to Ask About the Team
The people you work with day in and day out can really make or break your work life. It does not hurt to see if this is the right team for you.
16. Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
17. Who will I work with most closely?
18. Who will I report to directly?
19. Do you expect to hire more people in this department in the next six months?
20. Which other departments work most closely with this one?
21. Can you tell me about the people in the team? What are their strengths and the team’s biggest challenges?
Questions to Ask About Next Steps
A good way to make sure the interviewer has all the info they need is asking these questions. It is also good to be very clear about what the next steps are.
22. Is there anything that concerns you about me being a fit for this role?
23. What are the next steps in the interview process?
24. Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?
25. Can I answer any final questions for you?
These are the 25 questions we believe are important to have answered when you walk out the door. Good luck on your next interview!
