An interview is a dialogue, not an interrogation. Feel free to ask your future employer some questions as well. Here’s our pick of 20 best questions to ask an interviewer.
Does every job interview you go to feel like an uneven power balance?
Maybe it’s time to change your approach and start dropping some questions for the interviewer yourself. After all, it is a great opportunity to learn a great deal about the company and the position itself. Turn the tables and prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer. You got this!
In this guide, you’ll find:
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Now, here are the top questions to ask an interviewer during a job interview:
The answer to this question will likely give you insight into what your schedule may look like in the future and what the daily demands of the role are.
This question can get help you receive some additional information that you’d never get from a job description. So apart from understanding what your day-to-day responsibilities will be, you’ll want to know what challenges will you face when working in this position.
Studies show that when personal values align with the company's core values, employees are happier and more inspired to do their job. So don’t be afraid to dig deeper into what the company is all about—their ethos, mission statement and what they stand for.
Show the recruiter that you care about your future at the company, and that you're excited about what the new position offers—growth, development opportunities, and more responsibility.
Understanding how your work will be evaluated is crucial. It will help you learn what the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the role are and what it would take to be successful in that position.
Find out more about the company history and what became of it. Bonus points: asking this question will also show the interviewer that you prepared for the interview and took the time to read a little bit more about the organization.
In most cases, you’ll be working on a team of different people on a day-to-day basis. Find out what the dynamics of the team are and if you’ll fit into the team’s style and approach.
You’ll want to ask this questions to find out what the culture of an organization is really like. The answer will give an idea if the colleagues get along well, if they like spending time together during break at work.
It’s a good idea to find out how long the recruitment process usually takes, so you know how and when to follow up. Additionally, it tells them you're genuinely interested in the job and are eager to hear back from them.
This question might be awkward to ask, but it will show the interviewer you are being smart and thorough by wanting to find out why previous employees may have been unhappy in this role.
With all this in mind, as you prepare for your next job interview, don't forget to take a moment to think about what you really want to know about the job.
If you still have trouble, pick some more questions from the list below:
The main part of the conversation is not over when the "Do you have any questions for me?" question drops. In fact, during a job interview, asking questions is just as important as answering them.
If you decide not to ask any questions, the recruiter may assume that you’re not really interested in working for the company at all.
After all, employers want to hire someone who’s prepared and committed, and who shows it from the very first moment. A job interview is not just about the recruiter asking questions and you answering them. It’s worth conducting a dialogue, showing interest, proving that you really want to work for a given company.
So, how will you actually benefit from asking these questions?
Our ideas about the nature of the job are most often highly simplified and based mainly on what we’ve read in the advertisement and the company website. Direct contact with the recruiter can be a great opportunity to gain first-hand information.
So ask for more detailed information about the company and the position you are applying for—you may want to know what the organization’s objectives are, what the daily routine looks like in this position, if there are any development opportunities, and what the structure of the company and the team looks like.
Asking some thoughtful questions at the end of your interview is a simple way to show your enthusiasm for the job.
Talking to a recruiter and asking them a few questions makes us look professional and prepared. It’s also a great way to convey your enthusiasm for the job and the organization that you're looking to join, as it proves you really want to understand what the role is all about, and its requirements and expectations.
Not having any questions for the recruiters shows a lack of interest in the company. It also gives the impression that it doesn't matter whether you work for company X or Y, as long as you get hired SOMEWHERE. And everyone (including employers) likes to feel special. So take advantage of the opportunity and find out whether the job is the right fit for you.
By asking questions at the end of an interview, you can initially verify the mutual expectations of both parties.
In short, your future job satisfaction may depend on what questions you ask at the interview. That said, you can avoid a situation where, for example, after accepting a seemingly promising offer, it turns out that the actual work conditions are far from what was expected. And no one would want that!
Preparation is key when going for an interview with a prospective employer. Actually, not asking the interviewer questions may be interpreted as lack of preparation. Since you haven't taken the time to research the company in more depth, the employer might think it's not worth investing time in you…
And you definitely don’t want to give that impression.
Now, you may be thinking that it doesn’t make any sense to prepare these questions beforehand, since it’s impossible to predict the course of the interview, as it may turn out that all the previously prepared questions have already been answered.
However, it’s worth doing it anyway and having something up your sleeve if nothing new comes to mind during the actual interview.
While asking questions is always great when you’re being interviewed for a job, there are certain topics that should be avoided during the first meeting with your potential boss.
Most companies highly value availability and diligence, and asking this question gives the interviewer the impression that you are indisposed or even lazy. There is a high probability that the employer will turn you down in the first stage of the recruitment process.
Salary is, of course, one of the most important issues raised at a job interview. The problem is that this question should not come from the employee, and it certainly shouldn’t be asked at the beginning. The organization is focused on finding a candidate who will bring new ideas and make changes where they need to be made. How is it going to look if you seem more focused on the money and benefits?
This should go without saying, but asking this question is considered highly unprofessional and is a huge red flag to employers.
Just as the interviewer is not allowed to ask you about personal matters, so you too should avoid steering the conversation into inappropriate territory. This means that you should never ask about things like your interviewer’s marital status, age, nationality, religion, address, and so on.
Although it’s perfectly fine to ask how long they’ve been with the company and what they enjoy about their job, it’s considered extremely unprofessional to ask about their salary.
A job interview is an opportunity for the employer to get to know you better, but it’s also a great chance for you to get to know the company as well. Make good use of this meeting and learn as much as you can about the organization and the job by asking some insightful questions.
Thanks for reading! Still not sure what questions to ask an interviewer at your next job interview? Perhaps you have some of your own interviewing tips and tricks to share? Give us a shout in the comments section!
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Aleksandra is a career expert with a solid professional background in various industries. At ResumeLab, she shares her knowledge, insights and expertise with all applicants looking to make a career move with a perfect resume and cover letter that guarantee recognition and success.
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