Interviewing is a Two-Way Street: Questions to Ask the Interviewer
By Stacey Thornberry
When entering a job interview, remember that the interview is not just to see if the company likes you, but to see if you like the company. To do this, you must answer the interviewer’s questions honestly as well as ask the interviewer important questions. This article provides some essential questions that you may want to ask your potential employer during a job interview.
To decide if you want to work for an organization, ask some questions about the company without appearing to have neglected researching the institution.
These questions will help you determine whether or not you will be compatible with the company’s environment:
- What is this company’s organizational culture like? Any special traditions or great stories?
- Is the culture laidback or structured?
- Are personal conversations and relationships encouraged?
These questions will help you evaluate the long-term options available with the company:
- Is there room for upward mobility and professional growth?
- How does the company support educational endeavors?
In addition, you should ask questions about the position to learn more details about your potential job:
This question allows you to picture yourself doing daily tasks and determine if they appeal to you.
- What would an average day on the job be like?
- What are the main challenges facing the person in this position?
- Who would be my supervisor? Would I work mostly with internal personnel or external customers?
Lastly, you should ask questions about the hiring process:
- What is the next step? Will there be additional interviews?
- When will you make the hiring decision? May I call you? When is a good time?
Learning the answers to these questions will provide you with more information about the organization, position, and interviewing process. With this information, you can decide whether you would like to pursue this position or search for another one.