99% of job interviews end with the interviewer saying ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ and the biggest mistake a person can make in an interview is to say ‘No.’
Asking insightful and intelligent questions at the end of the interview can make an immense difference in how you proceed further. It does not only give you some additional and in-depth information on the job and organisation, but it can also help you appear enthusiastic, interested, and engaged. It can also give you your last chance to highlight some of your best qualities.
Questions can vary from the role specifically, to progression possibilities, company culture, and even some phishing questions that will give you another chance to clarify information about yourself or highlight your best traits.
Here are some of the top questions that could impress the hiring manager.
1. Could you describe the working culture in the company?
Don’t be afraid to ask a direct question about the culture in the company. On average a person spends ⅓ of their lifetime at work and it makes perfect sense to be worried about how you will fit in. The interviewer's reaction and the answer might give you a quick glimpse at the type of environment that the employees work in and what kind of relationship there is between team members.
A person that fits their culture is just as much a benefit to the company as it is to the person.
You should also try and look for hints in the answer that could tell if the company prioritizes their employee's happiness.
2. What would you like the person to achieve in the first 6 months in the job?
Try to find out what exactly the employer expects from you. An answer to this question will uncover if the job description really matches what is expected of the person in this role as well as give you an idea of what the company describes as success. You could also find out that you are over or under-qualified for the position.
Additionally, asking this question shows that you are engaged and willing to work hard to impress the company if hired.
3. Are there opportunities for additional training & education?
An answer to this particular question will tell you if there is a future for you in the company or if the position you are applying for will be the last stop. An organization that is not willing to invest in their employee training and education is very unlikely to help you further in your career.
Asking these questions will also let the interviewer know that you are committed to your career and the company you work for.
4. What percentage of available positions in the company are filled internally?
This is a simple question to show early interest in progression within the company. It can also give you an inside look at the management style and employee appreciation. If only less than half of the higher positions are being filled internally, the company has low employee appreciation and rarely reviews their employee performance.
5. Is there anything that concerns you about me as a candidate for this job?
This is the most direct way of finding out if the interviewer has any concerns that would make them stop you from going forward. This way you get a chance to address those concerns that the interviewer perhaps wouldn’t have mentioned otherwise and maybe get another shot at the job. This can also be a sneaky way of creating an opportunity to mention again your experience and skills.
Do your best to prepare these questions before the interview to make sure you/re not put on the spot and leave without some crucial information.
Asking insightful questions can really highlight you as a candidate and differentiate you from all the other interviews.