Are you excited to know the Impressive Questions to Ask in an Interview? Read the article to learn more.
Anytime you think about sitting in an interview, it’s hard to think of what questions to ask an interviewer. Many people shy away from asking for the fear of ruining their first impression or simply because they do not know what to ask. Asking a question for securing the future in that company is a big step and you must be well prepared to ask questions that concern your future scope. But one thing to remember is that you cannot start asking any type of questions. You must use tact and intelligence while forming your answer to get the best view of the job scenario or scope and pattern. The question that makes you look right in the sight of the hiring manager and gives an insightful view of the whole company plus about your roles and responsibilities are the right questions to put forward.
The purpose of asking such questions is to display your intelligence( IQ and EQ), job experiences, and qualifications. It showcases your confidence and wit. It gives you an insight into the company’s career road map. It gives you a glimpse of the employer’s challenges and expectations. It opens a way for you to understand the company better. It prepares you for those kinds of challenges or helps you decide whether you want to face such kinds of challenges before joining the company. It helps you to stay grounded and focus on the real deal. The deal that you are receiving from the company you are being interviewed for.
What not to say while asking questions to your interviewer
- Don’t ask something to indirectly promote yourself. If it happens organically then it’s fine other than that it can get quite annoying for the interviewer and thus ruining your chances further.
Example:- If you ask the interviewer about a thing the team lacks intending to say how you can meet that need. This will come out as you being an opportunist and insincere.
- Avoid making it about you and ask questions only when you genuinely want to know the company’s workings and you want to evaluate it based on your skills and expertise.
When a hiring manager asks you this question, “do you have any questions for me?” It means that they are expecting you to ask intelligent and useful questions. This is an opportunity to show your impressive self to the hiring manager. Your answer will determine your value as a person and it will showcase this thing which is mentioned below:-
- You will seem more sincere and interested in their job position. When this question is asked if you reply no, then it gives an impression that you are lazy or uninterested in the job position. It always gives the impression that you are a shallow person.
- You will have the chance to show your intelligent side and further impress the hiring manager. If you ask them thought-provoking questions along the lines of conflict resolution of the company or their policy for accommodating young mothers, such questions give an insightful and meaningful character of you as an individual. This could further impress the hiring manager without your effort.
- Asking questions along the lines of work culture and challenges makes you look like you are eager to learn and make a name in this company. Nobody would turn down a passionate person who loves their work right?
- Questions along the lines of your qualifications are great as long as you keep a humble tone to them.For instance, asking about how you could use your Master’s degree in which you top the class is a way of impressing your hiring manager without seeming too showy. This just shows your concern if this job will let you utilize all that you learned in the Master’s program.
What not to ask your hiring manager
- Questions that make you look like it’s all about you, your comfort, your compensation, your package, your hiring date, feedback about the interview, etc.
- Eliminate or cut down ‘Me’ questions. Questions that do not make you look like a working professional should be avoided at all costs.
- Just because they ask you to ask them questions doesn’t mean you have to shower them with mindless questions.
- Maintaining professional decorum will always help you to achieve the desired goal which is at the end of the day is to get the job.
Here are some questions which are a big No
- Can you rate my interview on a scale of 1 to 10? (Even if you need constructive criticism, this question is downright disrespectful to yourself and the hiring manager) you can find some other healthy way to get that constructive criticism but not here, please.
- When will you let me know my selection? (This is uncomfortable for the hiring manager as you are putting him in the spot) you can diplomatically ask the same question without seeming so desperate.
- May I know the leave policy and how soon can I take my time off for the winter break?( You have started thinking about holiday even before you joined, what kind of impression do you think it will create, obviously hiring manager will put such candidates on the blacklist). Asking about bonuses and perks even before selection is also a big no.
Some questions to ask your hiring manager
If you are looking for some serious growth and elevating your titles through greater responsibility after a few months. Go ahead and ask these kinds of questions
- What can you expect of the person holding this particular job?
( This question will give you an idea about what they may require to do those certain tasks. It is a good question to ask if you want to clear the doubts of your expectations)
2. What do you have in mind about the person you will hire in this position after six months?
(This question will open the way to know their policies and strategies and training they may have for their employees)
3. If there are none of the hiring managers just give a vague answer like,’ oh we do have thoughts about our employee’s career well-being and are planning on it. You could ask further what kind of planning they are thinking of and if they could share a little on that. If the hiring manager has nothing to say. It is not a company that looks for the growth of its employees. You might want to consider looking elsewhere.
4. What does the career road map look like in this position, could you please walk me through it?
( While asking this question, do it with enthusiasm and let them know you are excited to have a first-hand experience report right from the hiring manager.This will show that you are interested to be a part of it and would like to have more information on the company career road map.)
5. Do you have any thoughts on hiring more candidates in the department where I am being interviewed for? Or am I the only one?
This question will also let you know about the growth and expansion that they intend to do. Asking such questions puts you in a safe place of making a sound decision for your career progression.
6. May I know where you see this company three years from now?
Understanding where the company is headed is very crucial for a person who has a keen interest to further their career. You can ask such questions to gather some information along those lines
7. What kind of expectations do you have for people working in this organization?
( If they have bare minimum expectations, do you like to be in such an environment where your skills are not utilized to their fullest?)
8. What qualifications or skills do you want me to add to fit me in this role?
(The answer will let you know some skills or qualifications needed for this type of role if you lack in some, it is good to know so that you can take those courses and walk your way up in your career. Even if you are not selected here you will be better prepared for your next interview,so it’s worth asking it)
9. Does the company support its employees by aiding career development plans?
Or
Does the company support its employees from pursuing further studies?
(Some jobs encourage their employees to go further in their studies and some even have programs of special scholarships for their employees. If you are someone who loves to pursue higher studies or courses to advance your career. Asking such questions will help you to make a better decision.)
Other general questions to ask your hiring manager
1. What is the one main thing this company does to compete with its competitors?
The answer will help you decide if you are joining a competitive company and whether you are ready to face such challenges. On the flip side, if they are complacent in their answer, the question to ask yourself is, do you want to be a part of a mediocre company?
2. Whom will I report to directly most of the time and may I know what that person is like?
3. What is the team’s greatest failure to date? How did they cope with it?
Some guidelines into why value-based questions are also a deciding factor for an interviewee.
A person loves to work in a place where they feel accepted for who they are and also for what they believe. If you want to know if your beliefs and values are secure or not, asking questions that help you understand these areas is important. Yes, every company will not cherish all the things you value but it is good to know the culture in advance so that you can have a clear understanding of what your non-negotiables are. For instance, if there are alcoholic drinks used in every office party and everyone is expected to participate, this can be demoralizing for a person whose religious affinity does not allow him/her to participate in such things. Asking questions to know where your boundary ends is very important as it will help you to escape unnecessary drama in the future.
Some of the questions are :
- How do you celebrate each other’s success in this company?
(The answer to this question will let you know what you can expect from the company’s style of celebration. Do they like to remunerate with substantial things or is it just like a namesake celebration?
2. Do people in this organization consider each other families?
If yes, calling a work relationship family especially from the boss’s mouth has more cons than pros. The expectations get too high with less remuneration ,after all families sacrifice for each other is the thought process that goes with it. Better navigate with caution if that’s the answer you get.
3. Another question is: What type of people work here? Or what are the common traits you’d find in this organization?
(This answer will tell a lot about the values and principles that this organization follows). Now that you know what it is, you can have the discretion to choose wisely and choose the one that suits your goals and principles.
4. What do you think will rub on me if I work here for about a year?
(It is important to know that the environment you surround yourself with has a way of getting on you. You can ask these to know which qualities you already have and maybe you will find those qualities or mannerisms that you may want to let get on you.
5. Can you tell me a little about the office design and its purpose?
(The building and the office space says a lot about the culture they want to bring to the office)
There are some questions to ask if you want to know the interviewer’s point of view regarding the company. Since they asked you to ask them some questions, this is your chance to know right from someone who is working there.
- You may ask the hiring manager what part of the job roles and responsibilities does he/she enjoy the most?
(If the hiring manager answers the big paycheck and does not mention any other thing. That is a red flag to consider)
2. How long have you been working in this position? This question will let you know if it’s a permanent position with no scope of promotions.
3. Have you found anyone fit for the position yet?
4. What is the most challenging and dreaded part of working in this company?
5. What is the timeframe of the hiring process?
6. Will, there be people I need to train or will I be under a trainer?
7. Will the company give me a prominent place in the decision-making while in this position?
8. Why has the vacancy for this post come out? (The answer will let you know if the vacancy happen due to death, firing, or new creation of job role)
9. What is the retirement age for this company in this job position?
10. Is there a fixed date to start the work for this position?
11. Are you the right person to contact for further queries I may have after I leave this interview room?
12. Is there a telecommuting policy in this company?
13. Does the company have a way to instill work-life balance in their employees?
14. Does the office have a baby room for accommodating the toddlers of their employees? (This question is for those young mothers or those who have toddlers and need assistance with their babies)
15. What is the top reason for conflict among the employees in this company?
(This answer will help you to tackle the conflict. Knowing the conflicts beforehand gives you an idea on how to avoid it)
Conclusion
Asking questions to the interviewer is good because it lets you learn so many insightful things about yourself as well as about the company. But one thing to note is to ask only those questions that you will not ask on the company’s website or elsewhere. Asking those obvious questions already available will make you look plain stupid.
While asking the important question that you will only find from a company’s proper representative, your attitude should reflect a positive one and it must be sincere and display an eagerness to join this role. These questions can be used to ask during a job interview solely based on the job roles for which you are being interviewed. It is always good to prepare ahead of time. In a competitive world, only tough negotiations and asking the right questions can help you create the work world that you desire and help you to give better vision and clarity to make your move with wisdom and tact.
