You have been going through an interview and everything has been going very smoothly. It is coming to an end and the employer asks if you have any questions. You stop and think for a second and reply: “Nope, I think that’s it.” Big mistake. Going to an interview and not having any questions can make it seem like you have no interest in the job. It can also make it seem like you already know everything there is to know about the job and the company (when you probably don’t). We want to help you avoid this situation. In this blog, we will cover some good questions to ask during an interview and some questions you should avoid asking in an interview.
Great Questions to Ask in an Interview:
Ask the interviewer what they enjoy about working at the company and how long they have worked there.
- These questions are positive questions to ask the interviewer to open up and tell you all the reasons they enjoy working there.
How would you describe the company culture?
- Get to know their culture and if it fits the kind of culture and environment that you would like to be a part of. After all, you are trying to assess if you’re a good cultural fit for the company.
What would an average day in this position look like?
- You may already know some of the job responsibilities from the job description and from interviewing, but do you really understand what you’ll be doing each day. This will give you more insight into what you would be doing. This can help you determine if you would enjoy what the job entails each day.
What is your training program/ process like?
- This will help you understand how much training they will give you and how extensive their training process is. This will help you determine if you’re going to feel confident doing the job alone (or with a team) after you finish their training process.
Are there opportunities for professional development? If so, what do those look like?
- Ask this question if you would like to learn more about what the company is going to offer to help you grow professionally within this job.
What do you think is the most challenging aspect of this job?
- This is a good way to ask about the challenges that might arise in your job position. This will allow you to hear about some of the challenges that come with the job before you start working there so you can determine if those are something you can easily overcome or not before starting the job.
Can you talk to me about this department and the team members I would be working with?
- Ask this question if you would like to get a better understanding of the team you will be working with before you meet them and start working with them. They should be able to give a little insight on personalities, and how the team operates and works together.
What are the next steps in this interview process? (ALWAYS finish with this question!)
- If the interviewer has not yet told you what the next step will be, ask them! This will show you are interested in the job and looking forward to hearing back from them.
Questions to Avoid:
When will I get a raise or a promotion?
- Avoid asking this question. You should be focused on the job and salary you are interviewing for. This will also make you look too eager to move on from this position and you shouldn’t be asking about promotions for a job you haven’t been offered yet.
Will you be checking my social media profiles?
- Avoid this question because this will make you look suspicious and that you are trying to hide something. It can be assumed that your social media profiles are inappropriate. (Make sure your social media profiles are appropriate and clean for future employers to look at.)
Questions that start with “why?”
- “Why” questions can put people on the defensive and can come off confrontational. Questions that start with why can be interpreted the wrong way.
Do you drug test often?
- Avoid this question because this will make you look suspicious. If you ask this question, it can be assumed that you may partake in these activities, and have a reason to be concerned. It can also be assumed that you are focused on the wrong elements of a job search.
What does your company do?
- Asking about what the company does shows that you did not research the company and you know nothing about it. You’ll want to know facts and basic information about a company to display your interest in the company you could be potentially working for.
What is the worst thing about working here?
- Avoid negativity in an interview. This could put the interviewer in an awkward spot. This question can make it seem like you are asking the interviewer to criticize their place of work. Instead, try posing the question to ask about the challenges you might face within the job position.
Show Up Prepared
In Conclusion, make sure you show up to an interview prepared. Have at least 3 questions prepared to ask at the end of an interview. Always finish an interview by asking appropriate engaging questions that show your interest in the job. It is very important that you gather as much information about the job and company as possible to see if it is going to be the right fit for you!
Adaptive Solutions Group is an IT staffing company that has been in the staffing industry for over 15 years. Adaptive Solutions Group has helped so many people in their job search and through the interview process. If you are interested in more information about Adaptive Solutions Group and how we can assist you please check out our about us page!