Questions to Gain Interview Insights
You have finished answering all the interviewer’s questions and discussed your experience. You have now reached the final stage of the interview which typically goes to…” Do you have any questions?”
This is both a test and an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge, level of prior research and expertise. It is crucial that you ask the right questions to maximise engagement with the interviewer.
The purpose of asking questions is to find out more about the company, the role and performance expectations. Avoid asking questions that can be answered by searching on the internet! It’ll ruin your whole interview if you show that you didn’t quite prepare as thoroughly as you should have.
Examples of Important questions to ask:
How would you describe the company’s culture? This can help you gauge what kind of environment you will be working in, should you not get an opportunity to meet any employees or walk around the office.
What are the challenges of this position? Ultimately to understand what is expected of you and to assist with your decision if this role is suitable for you.
How will you evaluate success for this role? Knowing how a company measures success will help you understand if there is room to progress to the next step and whether it’ll be recognised by the business.
Are there any areas to clarify or elaborate on about my experiences/skills? There are always questions, some concerns and itches that the interviewer has about you. This is no criticism to your experiences and skills, they want to make sure they have found the best candidate that will fit the role and do the job. Give them the opportunity to voice out any questions they have, that way you can leave the interview knowing you have done everything you can.
Who should I follow up with about the role? Commitment. You need to get some commitment from the interviewer, that way you can expect to get an answer if you did or didn’t get the role.
Take Home Message:
Asking the right questions at the end of the interview will provide information to help with your decision making process. Plus, it’s an opportunity to engage with the hiring manager. After all, if you can’t initiate communication, what sort of impression does that create. It will show you are thoughtful, prepared and taking this opportunity seriously. Your objective is to have the hiring manager want to keep the process going, so you can decide if that is what you want to do.
