Job Interview Questions – What should YOU be asking?

Job interviews are nerve wracking, especially for graduates who are attempting to get their first foothold on the progression ladder. The preparation, the research and the interview process to secure a graduate position can be intense and leave you feeling drained once you finally reach the end of the interview.

Whether you think the interview has gone well or not, most people just want to get out of there as quickly as possible, and many make the mistake of thinking that the final question “Do you have any questions for me?” is simply a closing statement to give you permission to decline, shake hands, thank them for their time and leave.

But, as I point out in my article on interview questions http://www.jobsinmanchester.com/blog/22/%E2%80%8Bquestions-for-you-to-ask-in-your-interview/, not asking any questions of your own could just be the biggest mistake you make in your interview.

Why should I ask questions – isn’t that what the interviewer should be doing?

Many graduates forget that the interview stage is a two way exchange, and asking your own questions gives you an opportunity for you to find out more about the inner workings of the business. Not only this, but it gives you another opportunity to prove you are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and keen to learn.

Interviewers will expect you to ask questions –  not doing so will impact negatively on their impression of you and decrease your chances of landing the job. If you train yourself to think of your question time as another stage of the interview, you can prepare for it just as thoroughly as you have for the rest of the process.

When should I ask questions?

Naturally you should have several questions up your sleeve for that final enquiry, however that doesn’t mean that you can’t ask questions throughout your interview. This tactic can in fact be a more effective way of making a good impression. Asking questions as the interview unfolds not only shows that you are attentive and inquisitive, but also makes the interview unfold into a more conversational and less formal affair. Rather than simply answering their list of questions, you will find that you are interacting on a more human level and this will build valuable rapport.

What kind of questions should I ask?

There are all sorts of questions you could ask to find out more about the business, what the position will involve and other important information. We can break the kinds of questions you should be asking down into a few categories. To prove yourself to the employer you should ideally ask at least one from each category.

The Career Progression Question

Convey to the interviewer that you are serious about your role within the company and that you are looking for long term work. Examples:

• Is there the opportunity for progression within the company?
• How do you see the successful candidate’s role evolving within the company over the next few years?

The Training and Development Question

Prove that you are looking to build on your skills and improve yourself.

• Do your employers receive regular training to build on their skills?
• I am interested in building on my skills through training schemes. Does your company offer training courses?

The Research Question

Show the interviewer you’ve done your research on the company or the industry.

• I noticed that there has been a lot of coverage of … … in the news recently. How does the company intend to respond to this moving forward?
• I saw on your company website that you achieved … … how do you see the successful candidate contributing to further successes?

The Personal Question

Find out more about the interviewer to gain insight into the company and build rapport. Be careful not to get too personal – you don’t want to make them uncomfortable.

• What do you enjoy most about working for this company?
• Have you found that the company has put your skills and abilities to use, and have they encouraged you to develop new skills?

The Job Specific Question

Prove that you are the perfect candidate for the job. Use the job advert to your advantage.

• One of the main reasons I applied for this job was because it requires someone with (insert skill here). How will this be put to use in the job role?
• I was particularly attracted to this job because I would be able to put my (insert experience here) to use. Do you think my (insert other skill) would also be beneficial in (insert task here)?

The Recap Question

Demonstrate that you have been listening throughout the interview, and draw their mind back to a positive part of the interview.

• You mentioned earlier that (insert something positive the interviewer said earlier in the interview) I just wanted to say that I would be really interested in getting involved with this should I be successful. How would that fit in with the other responsibilities of the job?

Now that you have some examples of great interview questions to ask, go away and practise. You might find that it changes your perception of the interview process as a whole. Now that you’ve got some great questions up your sleeve, you can edit your answers to the employers interview questions and take back some control. It is a two way process after all. Good luck!

Author Bio

Olivia Lazenby is a writer for www.jobsinmanchester.com. She writes regular blogs with great advice for job seekers in the greater Manchester area.