Job interviews are a two-way street and you should be interviewing the employer just as much as they are interviewing you. You both need to walk away convinced that the job would be an ideal fit. So always go prepared, have some questions ready, and make sure you use the time you have to it’s full potential.
Asking the employer the right questions will not only differentiate you from the rest of the candidates, it can also confirm your qualifications for the position, and help you decide if it is actually an organization your would enjoy working at.
Before your interview, you should always prepare. Research the company, read about the nature and work culture of the organization, learn their terminology, and always have a set of questions ready to ask your interviewer. Make sure your questions are intelligent and relevant, to show diligence as well as true interest in the work. These questions should always come directly from your research of the employer, and should be open ended questions, that elicit a full response, and not simple “yes-no” answers. These can be anything from questions about why your interviewer enjoys working at the company, to questions about how things are and have been run in the past.
So how do you come up with these smart questions that show that you’re the perfect candidate for the job, as well as help you decide whether the company is the ideal place for you? As you conduct your pre-interview research, make note of things that are important to you, and that you would like to learn more about. As a starting point, here are some questions you can ask, when the tables are turned and it’s your turn to test the interviewer.
Learning about day-to-day tasks will give you more insight into what skills and strengths are needed for the job. This question gives you the chance to learn as much as possible about the role, what to prepare for, what skills to hone, and whether or not this is a job you actually want.
The reason why the person is no longer in the company is relevant as you evaluate this opportunity to be successful in the role. That, in turn, will provide you with a clue to whether there’s chance for advancement and what you can offer the employer that the previous hire did not
How a company evaluates employee success is a vital factor in whether or not you accept the job. It demonstrates your interest in being successful and the answer will show you how to gain momentum when you start.
If you are planning to stay at the company for several years, you need to make sure the organization is growing in order for you to grow with it. Such a question can also help determine whether the company’s goals are aligned with your own in terms of career development. In fact, 85% of respondents to the Bayt.com Career Development in the MENA survey claim that career development is very important to them, 54% are prepared to move to another country and 53% are willing to move into another sector to further develop their career.
Asking about the team is as important as inquiring about the job itself. It tells you about the people you will interact with on a daily basis and if you can fit in with the team. This also gives the employer the idea that you understand that the job is of a collaborative nature, and that you are a team player.
This is an essential question to ask to conclude the interview. It shows that you’re interested in moving along in the process and invites the interviewer to tell you how many people are in the running for the position. This is the perfect way to conclude your interview. It shows your interest in the company, and that you would like to move forward. It also shows leadership skills, and may even give you an idea of how many other people are being considered for the position.
