24+ Smart Questions To Ask In An Interview

To avoid being caught off guard at the end of an interview, it’s wise to prepare a strategy for responding and a list of relevant questions in advance. This approach helps you accomplish two key objectives during this stage of the interview.

Firstly, use this opportunity to evaluate whether the company and the role align with your career goals and values. Ask questions that help you determine if this opportunity is the right fit for you.

Secondly, continue to demonstrate why you’re the ideal candidate for the position. Ask follow-up questions based on earlier conversations to show your genuine interest and understanding of the role. Make sure this part of the interview flows seamlessly from the previous discussions.

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Questions to Ask Regarding the Role

How might a normal day or week be structured?

This is a fantastic chance to imagine what a typical day would look like, especially because job descriptions sometimes list a range of activities without making it abundantly apparent which ones you’ll be spending the bulk of your time on.
Imagine, for instance, that you find out that administrative tasks will take up most of your time rather than strategy. Or perhaps you find out that you will only have a few opportunities a year to work with a certain department about which you are enthusiastic.

Why is this job opening up? How long did the former employee hold this position?

You can determine if the role is fresh or if you are taking over for someone else by asking this question. A new role signals progress and may open the door to more worthwhile conversations.
That conversation may have revealed what you will require if you are filling in for someone. If they state that the last employee couldn’t work the hours they asked, it may be a warning sign if you’re a mother of two and don’t want to put in a lot of extra.

What abilities are required to excel at this position?

When a candidate asks this question, it shows that they are genuinely curious to find out if they possess the necessary abilities rather than attempting to pass without them by lying.
When the interviewer responds, you have the chance to discuss how your skills are applicable to the role (making connections that might not be clear from the resume). If you admit that you lack a particular talent, the interviewer will respect your candor and have the chance to take it into account when making a decision.

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What difficulties do you foresee this position facing the most?

The difficulties you may encounter are never mentioned in job descriptions.
You must ask this inquiry because of that. Do we have enough resources? Are there any messes in the other teams’ communications? You might also be working with someone who has a reputation for being shrewd and difficult.
If it organically fits into the conversation, use this as an opportunity to learn more and share how you overcame difficulties in the previous positions.

What tasks will be performed in this position? Are there any examples you could provide?

More concrete examples of the projects you’ll work on will help you determine whether this position is a good fit for you.
Referring back to the job description, you might anticipate being in charge of initiatives that benefit the community, only to learn that the person in charge of community programs actually requires a project manager. Only during a job interview will you learn which projects actually need assistance right now as opposed to what you read on paper.

Questions Regarding Job Success and Performance

Without any definition, how will you know whether you’re doing a good job?

This makes the question crucial for both the interviewer and the interviewee. Asking the interviewer what you must do in order to succeed in the position will help you learn about the most important job responsibilities.
Furthermore, just because success was mentioned in the job description doesn’t mean the potential employer will value it more than anything else. It’s important to ask the hiring manager specifically how they will evaluate your work, how frequently they will give you feedback, and how they will measure success because HR frequently reuses job descriptions year after year.

What are your goals for this position in the initial six months and the first year?

You may discuss a wide range of subjects in your interview, but you do not really understand yet what the hiring manager wants to see you do first.
That is why this query is significant. Can the interviewer clearly state what you should focus on first and the outcomes they want to see? The answer to this question will help you focus your initial months of work on what is actually crucial.

Questions about the educational process and career development

How does the training procedure look?

Is this the kind of workplace where you receive official training, or is it more of a “succeed or fail” situation where only a select few succeed? Think about what suits you the best as well.
Before asking what else the interviewee would like to learn, the interviewer may briefly discuss the training they have already provided. You will benefit from being aware of how much or how little training you want. Perhaps you would prefer to simply know who to contact and how, rather than taking part in formal training.

Will the company provide opportunities for professional development?

The need to pick up new skills is a natural aspect of practically every profession in today’s workforce. Online classes, conferences, or joining a workplace resource organization that holds live seminars can be options. It makes sense that you would want to know how much help the firm offers, regardless of how you decide to study.

Some employers will pay for your online education, but you’ll need to schedule the time on your own. Some employers allow you to take time off work to attend classes while also paying for your tuition. Learn about your possibilities while demonstrating your capacity for lifelong learning.

What about advancing your career? What positions have others in this position advanced to?

This inquiry needs to be phrased very carefully since it might come off as extremely self-serving and as if you’re only interested in this position so you can go on to the next.
Use this question to show that you are interested in the company and want to advance there rather than seizing opportunities for advancement whenever you can.

With whom will I be collaborating closely? What are the team dynamics?

How long you stay in the position and how much you enjoy it will probably depend on who you work with most frequently. Additionally, you’ll discover how frequently that might actually happen if working with a specific department is important to you.

A logical query to pose in order to learn more about the people who can affect your job and career at the organization. Let the interviewee describe their perception of the team dynamics. It’s possible that you discover there isn’t much team communication.

The majority of workplace issues begin with poor communication. Has this recruiting manager considered team communication? Is it obvious who to contact and how to communicate when there is a problem? Or are you required to respond to emails constantly?
Or you might discover that the group has been divided into smaller groups in order to work on projects. Think about your interpersonal skills when you raise this query.

What kind of professional path does the average team member choose after leaving?

Is there a lot of turnover on this team, or do most employees depart to join other internal teams? Or perhaps you’ll discover that there isn’t much turnover and the senior executive has held their position for 20 years with no immediate intentions to leave.
In addition, knowing where the team is looking to fill other positions can help you understand how your position will fit into the wider organizational structure.

Questions Regarding the Company

What is the culture of your organization like?

This gives you the ability to engage the interviewer directly, which most people find enjoyable, and it demonstrates your interest in both her viewpoints and the workplace culture.
Even though most hiring managers will want to give the best impression they can of the company culture, this does not mean you should leave the topic out of your interview. Perhaps they will make a point of stressing the start-up culture, which is frequently characterized by long hours and unpredictable schedules.

Or perhaps they will go on and on about how important worker welfare is. All of these cues could guide you in figuring out what the interviewer initially takes into account when pondering the culture.

What personality types or types of individuals actually flourish here?

Is this a business that values extroverts who spend a lot of time interacting with coworkers? Or do they adopt a foreign culture and implement real rules that don’t need you to shout the loudest to succeed?
This question’s ability to generate significant follow-up queries is yet another fantastic feature. Perhaps you’ll discover that parents who work full-time struggle in this setting, and as a new mother, it raises serious concerns for you.

Do you have any special team traditions or events?

This is a wonderful approach to discovering how close the team is and how frequently they engage in activities unrelated to their jobs.
Do they, for instance, take a team lunch every Friday? Does a group book club exist? Or perhaps they do nothing at all, and you are just OK with that!
Check the website or job description to make sure it doesn’t already address this before you inquire. Next, contrast your values with those of the team.

What’s the atmosphere like at work? How about the hours of work?

Our usual workplaces have undergone a significant shift thanks to COVID, and many businesses now use hybrid workdays and hours. Find out more about the expectations of the firm. It’s best to know now whether their return to working in the office full-time is a deal-breaker for you.

In five years, where do you envision the company?

The business could want to go public. Or it’s possible that they have big plans to change the focus of their products from children to parents.
Or perhaps you find out that the interviewer is unsure but still has faith in the leadership group. There is no right or incorrect response; rather, there is only more knowledge that you may use to either become thrilled about or dismiss this employment prospect.

Questions Regarding Work-from-home (If Applicable)

How do you conduct your home-based business?

The recruiting manager spends their entire day participating in Zoom calls; does this person have a designated workspace? Are there specified hours, or is it possible to work continuously without anybody noticing? You may get a quick sense of what the hiring manager expects from you by finding out how they operate from home.
Find out what the firm expects from remote employees. Perhaps you work remotely the most of the time but are required to appear in the office every Monday, which is contrary to what you expected the position description to call for.

How can workers who work from home receive guidance, feedback, and training?

One of the most important career tools you may have is feedback. How do the business and recruiting manager intend to support this if you aren’t present?
How does the business help you acquire new talents while you’re not present? Is a certification necessary to request reimbursement for an online course?
Companies were sometimes less strict on this when they conducted business in person because training can take place at irregular times, etc.

Questions to Pose After an Interview

When do you hope to meet the ideal candidate?

This starts a conversation where we can discuss expectations in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. The interviewer may be impressed with your moral standards if you tell them that you can’t start working for their company for two weeks because you want to give your present boss enough notice.

What is the next step in the interviewing process?

Become familiar with the schedule and the following steps in the interview process. Your anxiety will subside, and you’ll know when to follow up properly.

Can I provide any other information for you?

The interviewer now has the chance to ask any questions they may have and get clarification on any points you might have skipped.
It’s likely that you have already covered a lot of material in the interview by this time, but it’s a wonderful way to wrap things up and offer the interviewer another chance to ask you any questions.

Is there anything else you might need that I can provide for you?

If you mentioned a project in one of your interview questions, they could ask if you could provide it. Or perhaps there is another image or illustration you mentioned having that they would love for you to give. This is your time to demonstrate your awesomeness rather than simply saying it.

Conclusion

You don’t want to miss the opportunity to ask insightful questions. It’s your chance to reinforce your value and determine if the job aligns with your goals. While you won’t ask all of these questions, choose the ones that are most relevant to you, your interests, and the specific job.

Write down your chosen questions on paper or in your phone before the interview. Then, review them to ensure they’re fresh in your mind. Remember to respect the interviewer’s time by keeping your questions concise and relevant.