What questions should you ask when interviewing for a new role?
When it comes to job interviews, candidates tend to focus more on impressing the interviewer than on gaining knowledge about the company and the role. However, it’s essential to ask questions during the interview to ensure that the position is the right fit for you and to gain insights into the company culture, goals, and expectations. Asking questions also indicates to the interviewer that you’re engaged and interested in the role.
Candidates should always prepare a list of questions to ask during the interview process. In this blog post, we’ll cover some basic but important candidate questions you should ask when interviewing for a new role.
What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
Not only does this question show the interviewer you’re interested in the position, but asking about the day-to-day responsibilities helps you understand how the company aligns with your interests, skills, and competencies required. This also helps you understand whether the job is a good fit for your strengths and weaknesses.
What are the company’s short and long-term goals?
Having insight into the company’s short and long-term goals can help you determine if the job aligns with your career goals. It can also provide further insights into the company’s growth and prospects- what are the organization’s priorities, potential opportunities for advancement, and any potential changes that may affect your job in the future?
What are the company’s core values and culture? How are they demonstrated in the workplace?
Grasping a company’s values and culture is essential to determining whether you are a good fit for the organization. Company culture can play a significant role in job satisfaction, so it’s essential to ask about it. Ask about team-building activities, work-life balance, and communication styles to get a better idea of what it’s like to work at the company. Asking this question also gives light to the company’s priorities, work style, and communication norms. Follow up on these questions by asking how these values translate into day-to-day work and how employees are encouraged to live these values.
How does the company approach training and professional development?
It’s essential to ask about training and professional development opportunities to ensure that you will grow in your role and continue to learn. Ask about training programs, mentorship opportunities, and any internal job postings that are available. It also shows the interviewer that you’re interested in improving your skills and knowledge.
What are the biggest challenges facing the company right now, and how is the company working to address them?
Realizing the company’s challenges gives you an idea of the company’s priorities and how it handles obstacles. This also helps you understand how your skills and experience can contribute to the company’s success. Ask about any ongoing initiatives to address these challenges. This question may also help you understand the reason for the job opening and can provide you with valuable insights into the company’s priorities, growth plans, and areas for improvement. You can also ask about the company’s hiring process and how long it typically takes to fill a position.
Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
Getting to know your team is crucial for job satisfaction and success, so it’s essential to ask about them during the interview. The team structure helps you understand who you will be working with and how you will fit into the organization. You can ask about team size, who you will report to, different team member roles, responsibilities, reporting structure, and work styles- to see how you might fit in with the team.
What are the performance expectations for this role, and how will my success be measured?
Understanding how you’ll be evaluated in your role can help you set goals and ensure that you’re meeting expectations. It will also help you determine if the role is a good fit for your skills and experience.
What’s the company’s stance on work-from-home policies and work-life balance?
With the rise of remote work, it’s important to ask about the company’s policies on working from home. Ask about the company’s approach to flexibility, communication, and productivity when working remotely. Asking about work-life balance can help you understand the company’s expectations for working hours and any flexible work arrangements that are available. You can also ask about how the company supports employees’ well-being and whether there are any programs or initiatives in place to promote work-life balance.
What is the company’s approach to diversity and inclusion?
Diversity and inclusion are essential for a healthy workplace, so it’s important to ask about the company’s approach. Ask about the company’s efforts/programs to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, such as employee resource groups, mentorship programs, and diversity training.
Conclusion
Understanding why a company is hiring is also an essential question to ask. Is it because the company is growing, or is it because they’ve experienced high turnover? This information can help you gauge the company’s stability and future prospects. You can also ask about the company’s financials, such as revenue and funding, to get a better idea of its financial health.
In conclusion, asking the right questions during a job interview can help you gain valuable insights into the company culture, job responsibilities, and potential career growth opportunities. As a candidate, it’s important to come into your next job knowledgeable about what is going on. By asking these questions, you can evaluate whether the job is a good fit for your strengths, and interests and whether the organization aligns.
