At the end of an interview, recruiters will often give you a chance to ask them questions. It’s time to reverse the roles! Take charge of this position to not only show your understanding of the company, but to assess how well you would work with this potential employer. At Dress for Success Vancouver, we have over 30 professional career advisors who provide our clients with valuable advice, and we consulted with one of them to know exactly what to do when this situation arises. Check out this list of DOs and DON’Ts to help you determine if they are a good fit.
DO:
• Assess their expectations:
“What would a successful employee make happen for you?”
Ask this to understand how to position yourself to add more value, and be appreciated for what you do.
• Inquire about the day-to-day:
“What would a typical work day be like?”
This question can help you find out what skills you will be required to use the most, as well as the things you might need to learn on the job.
• Assess your opportunity for growth:
“What kinds of advancement opportunities are there for someone in this position?”
This can help you understand where you could be in the next few years, and how to potentially move up the ranks if you choose to.
• Assess your level of autonomy:
“Are there any new projects that you’d want someone in this position to work on?”
Inquire about this to assess what role you will play in the overall mission of the company, and how much freedom you might have to take on new projects.
• See if you share employees’ values:
“What do you personally like most about working here?”
Ask this to understand what motivates their employees, and see if you share the same enthusiasm.
• Assess the work environment:
“How would you describe the company culture?”
This will help you understand whether you will enjoy the environment and your coworkers’ approach to work.
• Understand the company’s drawbacks:
“Is there anything employees would say they like least about working here?”
Asking this will help you determine if you can tolerate the work conditions when they are not optimal.
DON’T:
• Focus on your free time:
“How much time off would I have?”
Try not to show too much enthusiasm for the time you’ll be spending on break. If you want to ask about benefits and other job perks, however, you can do so when you’re close to a job offer.
• Ask irrelevant questions:
“Where do people usually eat lunch?”
We know you wouldn’t ask this – but we have to warn you just in case. Questions like this one add no value to your assessment of the company you’re being interviewed at.
• Ask personal questions:
“I read that you used to work for XYZ Company. Why did you leave?”
Irrelevant, personal questions can show a lack of respect and professionalism towards your interviewer. Most importantly, they won’t help you determine if the company is a good place for you to work at.
• Ask things you could have easily researched beforehand:
“What product does your company sell?”
Although this information is extremely useful, it’s something you should always know before going into an interview. When you have this information ahead of time, you will be able to make informed decisions and ask in-depth questions.
There are many things you can ask an employer, so choose the questions that are most relevant to you and your situation. Make sure you don’t waste time with filler questions. In the end, if you can’t think of anything, be honest and say, “I don’t have any questions at this time.”
Need help getting ready for your interview? Call us at (604) 408-7923 to see if you qualify for a free, one-on-one mock interview session with one of our career specialists.