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Job applicants sometimes do not know the right questions to ask after interviews. So oftentimes they limit their own chances because of the questions asked.
Here are 10 good questions to ask and 10 questions you should try “not to ask” after an interview.
Here are 10 good questions to ask and 10 questions you should try “not to ask” after an interview.
As always, no two interviews can be the same as there are always different factors that determine how an interview will go.
The interviewer, the ambience, the questions answered and the ones you ask can all play different roles on the outcome.
The interviewer, the ambience, the questions answered and the ones you ask can all play different roles on the outcome.
Questions To Ask
1. Please describe the culture of your organization:
What this question does is subtly pass a message to the interviewer that you are also interested in wether the organization is the right fit for you. It is important that you are comfortable with the culture.
1. Please describe the culture of your organization:
What this question does is subtly pass a message to the interviewer that you are also interested in wether the organization is the right fit for you. It is important that you are comfortable with the culture.
2. Please shed more light on the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
You don't want to be hired for a role you thought was admin only to be asked to go buy food from Iya Shina. Learning the day-to-day tasks also gives an insight to specific skills and strengths needed.
You don't want to be hired for a role you thought was admin only to be asked to go buy food from Iya Shina. Learning the day-to-day tasks also gives an insight to specific skills and strengths needed.
3. Can you outline the typical career path for someone in this role?
Here, the interviewer will sense your need for career advancement. It also indicates your interest in growing within the org. However, don't ask in a way that'd sound self-serving.
Here, the interviewer will sense your need for career advancement. It also indicates your interest in growing within the org. However, don't ask in a way that'd sound self-serving.
4. What important qualities do I need to excel in this role?
Oftentimes, there are some valuable information that’s not included in the job description. This question can help unfold more about the expectations. That way, you can work towards being a good fit.
Oftentimes, there are some valuable information that’s not included in the job description. This question can help unfold more about the expectations. That way, you can work towards being a good fit.
5. What are the main challenges and opportunities the organization is facing?
Thing is, if you know the org has recently launched a service / product you could work this into the question by asking how it is being received – this also shows them that you’ve done your research.
Thing is, if you know the org has recently launched a service / product you could work this into the question by asking how it is being received – this also shows them that you’ve done your research.
6. Can you tell me a bit about your background?
The interview should not be about you alone. It's good to also show interest in the interviewer if they did not tell you about themselves. This helps in building rapport & finding common ground with the person interviewing you.
The interview should not be about you alone. It's good to also show interest in the interviewer if they did not tell you about themselves. This helps in building rapport & finding common ground with the person interviewing you.
7. How is success defined for the team I will be working in?
This question will help highlight the organization's priorities. Hence, you can compare and contrast with your own goals. It will also clarify what the business expects from their teams.
This question will help highlight the organization's priorities. Hence, you can compare and contrast with your own goals. It will also clarify what the business expects from their teams.
8. Is there anything we haven’t discussed or that you want to know that would help you with the hiring decision?
This question actually helps you offer the opportunity to fill any gaps that the interviewer might have noticed. It also helps you dot all 'i's and cross all 't's.
This question actually helps you offer the opportunity to fill any gaps that the interviewer might have noticed. It also helps you dot all 'i's and cross all 't's.
9. Can you tell me the challenges I might face if hired for this role?
This is another opportunity for the interviewer to talk about the specifics of the role. It is also aimed at selling yourself. Like, “Oh, I faced a similar challenge, but here’s how I handled it…”
This is another opportunity for the interviewer to talk about the specifics of the role. It is also aimed at selling yourself. Like, “Oh, I faced a similar challenge, but here’s how I handled it…”
10. What are the next steps and when should I be expecting to hear from you?
What this question does is show that you are eager to move to the next stage. It also helps you gain vital info about the timeline for hiring. That way, you can follow-up sensibly.
What this question does is show that you are eager to move to the next stage. It also helps you gain vital info about the timeline for hiring. That way, you can follow-up sensibly.
Always remember using these key points to ask questions at an interview:
- Specifics of My Role
- My Team and Expectations
- My Learning and Development
- The Organizational Culture and Business Goals
- The Interviewer
- Next Steps
- Specifics of My Role
- My Team and Expectations
- My Learning and Development
- The Organizational Culture and Business Goals
- The Interviewer
- Next Steps
Questions You Shouldn't Ask.
1. (Post Pandemic) How often can I work from home? Do I need to be here always?
Even if the org allows work from home always, this kind of question creates a bad first Impression. It also indicates you might want to be away from work always.
1. (Post Pandemic) How often can I work from home? Do I need to be here always?
Even if the org allows work from home always, this kind of question creates a bad first Impression. It also indicates you might want to be away from work always.
2. How soon will I be promoted?
Asking this kind of question will only make you come off as arrogant and somewhat entitled. There's a better way to ask about your development at the org and this isn't really a good way.
Asking this kind of question will only make you come off as arrogant and somewhat entitled. There's a better way to ask about your development at the org and this isn't really a good way.
3. Does the organization monitor social media activities?
Except you have something to hide, you really shouldn't ask this kind of question. When you raise concerns, it becomes a red-flag and the interviewer might just go with another candidate.
Except you have something to hide, you really shouldn't ask this kind of question. When you raise concerns, it becomes a red-flag and the interviewer might just go with another candidate.
4. Don't ask questions related to your salary or benefits first.
Always remember to let the interviewer lead when it comes to salary/benefits. Asking this question first means you are assuming you now have the job. Calm down. Let an offer be made at least.
Always remember to let the interviewer lead when it comes to salary/benefits. Asking this question first means you are assuming you now have the job. Calm down. Let an offer be made at least.
5. Would you like to grab coffee or drink later?
There's been many cases of candidates asking interviewers this question. It's a NO-NO. This comes off as trying to influence the hiring decision, or that you are more interested in a date. If anything at all, let them initiate it.
There's been many cases of candidates asking interviewers this question. It's a NO-NO. This comes off as trying to influence the hiring decision, or that you are more interested in a date. If anything at all, let them initiate it.
6. Do you do background checks?
Are you hiding something? LOL
Thing is, this question seem harmless, but you might have less time to explain why you've asked. Don't sow a seed in the heart of the interviewer that you won't be able to harvest. Hence, it can affect opportunity.
Are you hiding something? LOL
Thing is, this question seem harmless, but you might have less time to explain why you've asked. Don't sow a seed in the heart of the interviewer that you won't be able to harvest. Hence, it can affect opportunity.
7. What does this organization do?
Really? As much as the interviewer will tell you this, they expect you do your research as well. If they do not ask you what you know about them, then don't ask them what they do. However, find a way to include in one of your responses. Simple.
Really? As much as the interviewer will tell you this, they expect you do your research as well. If they do not ask you what you know about them, then don't ask them what they do. However, find a way to include in one of your responses. Simple.
