At the end of a job interview, you’ll almost certainly get asked if you have any questions. While it is tempting to see this as the end of the interview, it’s really important to take advantage of this opportunity. Being able to ask questions isn’t just about learning more on the company holiday policy. It’s also a very useful chance to prove your interest in the job and also find out more about the company culture.
You cannot predict how an interview will go and what questions will occur to you during the interview itself, but it is a good idea to have a few prepared beforehand. Avoid asking very obvious questions that you could find the answer to just by looking at the company website. Also, resist the temptation to talk about salary and benefits. This can come at a later stage, if you are offered the job. While you probably won’t want to ask all of these questions, they are a useful starting point.
#1 How do you do ‘Y’ here? (With ‘Y’ being an important part of the job)
This question will help you to establish the types of process that are already in place. It will also give you a good insight into how the company likes to do its work. This is important because it will show you whether you are a good fit and whether it matches your preferred way of working.
#2 How does the company like to celebrate success?
Different companies like to celebrate their achievements in different ways. The idea of this question is to see how well you match the company culture. For instance, if the company celebrates successes with formal evenings out but you prefer more informal events, then this could be a sign that it isn’t the right fit for you.
#3 What’s your favourite part of the company culture here?
Asking this question will give you real insight into the company culture, as it will tell you what employees particularly value about working for the company.
#4 Do you need me to clarify any points on my experience/qualifications?
Make sure that your interviewer is not left with any lingering doubts about your fit for the job by asking them if you can clarify any points. You definitely don’t want to finish the interview with them left wondering about your suitability.
#5 What are the next steps after this job interview?
It’s important you know what is going to happen after the interview is over. Otherwise, you won’t know when you should hear about the outcome. If your interviewer has not made the next steps very clear to you, then don’t be afraid to ask for further clarification. That way, you can avoid a lot of doubt and uncertainty as you wait for the response.
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