The Importance of Questions
You’ve probably heard it is important to ask questions when you are in an interview. And it’s true, you do need to ask questions. But the key is asking the right questions.
Even if your job interview is remote and may feel more informal, you will still want to come fully prepared. A remote interview is just as important as an in-person one. The more professional you look, the more your talents will shine.
When you ask the right questions you will not only show that you’ve done your research, but you will also learn a lot about the company, the culture within the company, and what to expect if you do get that coveted job offer.
Some questions you can ask are very specific to the job you apply for. Others are more generic to any company. We will focus on the more broad questions.
So what are the right questions to ask?
1. Questions about the process
Every company has a different process for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring. And a lot of those processes can depend upon whether the position you applied for is an urgent hire or not.
The time of year can also determine how quickly the process will move forward. If it’s during the summer or holidays, you may have delays due to vacations and unavailability to coordinate schedules.
So, once you’ve been asked if you have any questions – consider asking about the process.
These questions can include
- After this interview what is the next step?
- When can I expect to hear from you regarding the job/interview?
- What is the ideal start date for this position?
- What is the onboarding process like?
Questions like these show that you are serious about the job.
2. Questions About The Company
During your interview, it is common for many of the questions to revolve around the job itself. But a great way to take control of the interview and show that you’re serious about the position is to ask about the company.
These questions can include
- What is the company culture like?
- What does growth look like at this company – do they encourage hiring from within?
- Does this position have a career path that others have followed?
- What do you like about working here?
- What type of leadership/management style is the most prevalent within this company?
3. Questions About Your Role
A great way to show you’re already imagining yourself working at that company is by asking specific questions related to your position.
These questions can include
- What would be my responsibilities?
- Who would I be directly reporting to?
- How many other people are on my team?
- What else can I expect aside from what was in the job description?
- Would I need to travel, relocate, etc for this role?
- How many hours are expected?
- Are there any special projects that I would need to start right away?
When you ask these questions, you are also giving the interviewer a chance to see you within this role.
4. Questions About The Future
If you’ve had an interview in the last decade, you might have been asked the question, where do you see yourself in five years?
Now is a great time to get insight on the company’s future too. These questions can include:
- Where do you see the company going in five years?
- Is the company growing?
- Does the company offer professional development and if so what does it look like?
- What is the company’s main focus right now and how does my role align?
- Are there any pain points within the company right now?
These questions show that you are looking at this position for the long-term rather than just a job until a better one comes along.
Asking the right questions is part of having an excellent interview. You don’t need to ask all of these questions, in fact not all of them will be relevant to your position. However, it is important that you prepare a few questions for your interview. Think about what is most important to you about this job and make your list based on that.
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