8 fundamental questions to ask during your job interview

Your job interview is developing exceptionally well. You have confidently answered all of the recruiter’s questions. The interview is drawing to a conclusion. ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ will be one of the last questions you will receive. It is at this point where you must not remain silent, and boost your chances by making your inquiries.

In this article, we have prepared a list of smart questions you can use in order not only to get more information about the company and its expectations, but also to make a great impression and, thus, get some extra points.

1. Preparing interview questions and answers
2. What questions can you ask during your professional job interview?
3. 8 Excellent questions you can ask during your job interview
4. Interview questions and answers: Final considerations
5. Need the best job seeking tips? The Talent Point can help you!

1. Preparing interview questions and answers

Keeping at hand a list of inquiries will work in your favor. It makes you look committed, eager, and full of enthusiasm. All of these are qualities that an employer would value. You also have the chance to highlight your experience and the skills that are important for the position. You have given your job interview ‘tell me about yourself’ answer. What comes now?

Make a list of several questions you would like to ask the interviewer. You should have backup questions in place as well. This is in case the interviewer already gave you an answer to some during the earlier discussion.

Ask questions that are not solely about what the organization can do for you. Save wage and vacation time questions till after you have received a job offer. Also, avoid queries that demand a yes or no response, as this information is likely to be available on the company’s website.

While it is fine to ask your interviewer to clarify specific points, stay away from asking about already addressed topics. You do not want them to believe you are not paying attention. Also, never forget to prepare for the usual questions they will have for you.

2. What questions can you ask during your professional job interview?

You do not have to ask all of the questions on the list. However, having a few solid questions prepared will make you appear as a well-informed and prepared candidate for the position. Here are a few more items to consider as you create your list of questions.

2.1 Avoid making ‘me’ questions

Inquiries that place you ahead of the employer are referred to be ‘me’ questions. Discussing salary, health insurance, vacation time, work hours each week, and other privileges are among them. During a job interview, you should try to show the employer how you can benefit the firm. Not the other way around. You can start asking what the organization can do for you once you have received a job offer.

2.2 One question at a time is the best way to go

Multi-part questions should be avoided because they will simply confuse the employer. Every inquiry you make should have a purpose and focus on one point. Among the list of common job interview mistakes, this one is right at the top of it.

2.3 Do not ask any questions that are too personal

It is a good idea to try to strike up a conversation with your interviewer. Nevertheless, avoid asking personal questions that are not open to the public. If you see a college flag on the employer’s wall, for example, you can inquire if they attended that college. However, steer clear of queries concerning the interviewer’s family, religion, gender, or other personal details. The job interview ‘tell me about yourself’ answer applies to you, but it does not have to be present for them.

2.4 Ask questions about different subjects

Asking questions about a single topic is not a good idea. If you just ask questions about your boss and his management style, for example, the interviewer might believe you have a problem with authority figures. To exhibit your curiosity and enthusiasm in all facets of the position, ask questions about a variety of topics.

2.5 Avoid ‘yes or no’ questions

Most inquiries with a single-word answer, such as yes, no, or other, can most likely be addressed by checking the company’s website. Instead, ask questions that will start a conversation between you and the employer.

3. 8 Excellent questions you can ask during your job interview

3.1 Could you explain to me what are the daily tasks of the position?

With this question, you can get more information about the job itself. The interviewer’s reaction will reveal the abilities and experience required. It will also show whether or not the position is appropriate for you.

If you receive an offer for the position, the answer will give you an indication of what the company expects. That way, there should be no surprises when you start.

3.2 What training and advancement possibilities are available within the company?

Questioning about advancement chances shows the interviewer that you are serious about your profession. Also, it demonstrates that want to stay with the company in the future.

If you are unaware of the typical career path for someone in this role, asking this question will help you determine whether a long-term career with the organization is possible. Or, on the other hand, if you will need to go on to earn more responsibilities.

3.3 Could you describe for me how a normal week on the job would be?

Pay attention if the job description mentions a mix of admin and program work. It is crucial to know whether the admin work will take up 90% of your time. Or, on the contrary, if the ratio will be closer to 50/50. You might also discover that the aspect of the job you were most interested in happens once every 6 months. Even if you do not have any huge insights, the answer to this question can help you better imagine what it will be like to work daily.

They may tell you that every day is different in response to this question. If this happens, try asking something different. It could be along the lines of: “Can you tell me how the last month was for the individual who was in the job? What occupied the most of their time?”

If nothing you do yields a clear image of how you will occupy your time, it is an indication you are about to enter chaos – or a job where expectations are never clearly stated.

3.4 Can you explain to me a little bit more about the company’s culture?

This question is an excellent approach to examining the company’s working environment and determining whether you will fit in. This is a particularly great question if you are applying for a high-demand job.

You will learn if and how the company values employee happiness. Also, you can get more information about benefits and the work-life balance, from the recruiter’s response.

3.5 What expectations do you have for the person you decide to hire during their first your in the company?

This inquiry might help you figure out what kind of learning curve you will be facing. Also, you will learn about the team’s and organization’s pace. If they require you to have huge accomplishments within only a few months, you can bet they will not allow you much time to get up to speed. This may be good if you have a lot of experience, but it could be concerning otherwise. On the other hand, if you prefer to jump right in and get things done, you might be disappointed to learn that you will be spending the most of your first six months in training.

This inquiry can also help you learn about important projects you might not have known about otherwise.

3.6 How can I make a good impression among my peers and supervisors when I start the job?

At the end of a job interview, this is an excellent matter to address. What it shows to recruiters and hiring managers is that you want to make a positive contribution to the organization. 

Stay alert to their reply and reaction to the question. It will show you clearly what are the expectations they have. It will also highlight certain aspects of the job that you should concentrate on during your first few weeks.

3.7 What challenges will the person in this position be facing?

This can reveal information that you would not learn from a job description. It could be the fact that you will have to deal with thorny interdepartmental politics. Another could be that the person you will be working with the most closely is difficult to get along with. Yet a different situation would be that your program will be subject to draconian budget constraints.

It can also provide an opportunity for you to discuss how you have dealt with similar problems in the past, which can reassure your interviewer. Do not ask questions only to follow up with a self-promotional pitch. But if inquiring about issues leads to a genuine discussion of how you would address them, it can be truly beneficial for both of you.

3.8 How will the success of the person in this role be measured?

This goes to the heart of what you need to know about the job. What does it mean to perform well, and what will you need to do for the boss to be satisfied with your work?

It is not uncommon for a company to use the same job description for the past ten years, even if the position has changed dramatically. Companies frequently post job descriptions that mostly employ HR boilerplate language, although the actual manager has completely different notions about what matters most in the function.

Furthermore, most employers are generally not good at creating job descriptions. That is the reason why so many of them sound like they were created by machines rather than humans. Discussing what the role is really about is beneficial.

You may discover that, despite job postings listing 12 different responsibilities, your success is dependent on only two of them, that the posting dramatically understated the importance of one of them, that the hiring manager is battling with her boss over expectations for the role, or that the manager has no idea what success in the job looks like, which would be a sign to proceed with extreme caution.

4. Interview questions and answers: Final considerations

Spend some time thinking about what you want to know before your job interview. What factors do you think will have the greatest impact on whether you are happy with the work, the culture, or the boss when you anticipate going to work every day? Perhaps working in a relaxed environment with a lot of collaboration is important to you.

Maybe the most important thing to you is working somewhere with reasonable hours, where calls and texts on weekends and evenings are infrequent. Perhaps you have heard rumors about the position’s funding stability. Consider asking whatever questions are important to you or that you would like to have addressed before deciding if you want the job.

Naturally, you should not rely just on your interviewer’s responses to these questions. You should also conduct due diligence by speaking with people in your network who may have inside information on the company’s culture or the manager you will be reporting to, checking online reviews at sites like Glassdoor, and speaking with other employees.

5. Need the best job interview tips? The Talent Point can help you!

When you are in your job search, you need to be prepared for everything. From crafting a great resume to preparing yourself for every job interview you take, you must take into account all details. It is not an enterprise you can take lightly, and you must face it with every tool you have that can work in your favor. With our services, you do not have to worry about any of those problems.

The Talent Point can provide you with all the information you require and help you need to go out into the field to land the job you have been looking for.

Would you like to have more information about The Talent Point? Contact our offices at the phone number +971 43 316 688. You can also send us an email at the address [email protected]. Give us a call and our specialists will answer all of your inquiries.