Below are a list of questions I’ve been collecting from many different sources of questions an interviewee might want to consider asking an interviewer during a job interview. Pick and chose from this list as you see fit.
QUESTIONS FOR AN INFORMATION INTERVIEW
- What Attracted You to This Career Path?
- What Previous Professional Experiences Have Helped You Most in This Role?
- What’s Something That Would Surprise People About Your Day-to-Day?
- What’s One Thing You Wish Somebody Would’ve Told You Before Going Into This Field?
- What Are Some of the Biggest Rewards of Your Position?
- How Would You Describe Somebody Who Would Excel in This Career?
- What’s Most Important to Prepare for a Role Like Yours?
QUESTIONS FOR THE RECRUITER PRIOR TO INTERVIEW
- What’s the job description?
- Are you working with this employer exclusively?
- How long has the job been open?
- Was this position filled before or is it new?
- Why has the job been open a long time?
- What is the reason for the open position? Is the business growing?
- Who does this position report to?
- What are the top qualifications the hiring manager has asked you to look for?
- What is the compensation package?
- What is the interview process?
- What information do you have about the company?
- Where is the job located?
- How did you get my name?
QUESTIONS TO START INTERVIEW
- I’m happy to be here and I look forward to giving you all the information you want, but before we start, would you mind telling why you selected me to interview?
QUESTIONS FOR CONNECTING WITH THE HIRING MANAGER
- How did you come to work here?
- What do you love (or what have you enjoyed) most about working here?
QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPANY CULTURE
- Who is the most successful recent hire?
- Who has been the most successful person to work here and why?
- Who has been the most UNsuccessful person to work here and why?
- Who didn’t succeed as a new hire and why?
- Tell me about the last few team bonding events that were held.
- What motivated employees to reach their goals last quarter?
- What’s different about working here than about anywhere else you’ve worked?
- Does the company offer training and education options?
- What are the company’s plans for growth?
QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPANY CHALLENGES
- What’s the biggest challenge the company will face this year and how will this job help overcome that challenge?
- What’s the company’s biggest threat to success this year, and how will I be able to help overcome it in this role?
- How will I measure my performance to know I’m having a positive impact on that challenge?
- How Is the company doing (from a financial perspective)?
- Can you tell me about the most difficult client situation you’ve faced in the last six months?
- What are the two biggest challenges the department is dealing with right now?
- What do you hope to see accomplished in this department within the next 6 months to a year and how can this position help you get there?
- If you could improve one thing about the company, what would it would be?
QUESTIONS TO THE HIRING MANAGER
- Have you ever had to put someone on a performance plan?
- Have you ever promoted someone?
- How are you as a mentor, coach and teacher?
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSITION
- Why do you have a need to fill this position?
- Is this a vacancy, or a new position (and, if It’s a vacancy, what’s up)?
- Who previously held this position? What did he/she go on to do?
- How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?
- How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?
- What is the company’s management style?
- Where is the position located?
- How many people work in this office/department?
- How much travel is expected?
- Is relocation a possibility?
- What are the prospects for growth and advancement?
- How does one advance in the company?
- Are there any examples of a career path beginning with this position?
- What do you like about working here?
- What don’t you like about working here and what would you change?
- If I was a month into the job, what would my day look like today?
- What are some of the challenges I will face when entering this position?
- What will I be able to do to measurably make a difference this year?
- One year from now, you are giving me my performance review, what have I done over the last year to deserve your highest performance appraisal?
- How would you define success at this position?
- What does a successful hire look like to you?
- What are the three main qualifications you are looking for?
- What experiences and skills characterize your ideal candidate?
- I’d like to know what it takes to be successful in this position, what type of efforts do the top performers put in?
- Tell me about the most successful hire you’ve made recently. What did this person do to become a top performer so quickly?
- Out of all those qualities that you just stated, which would you say is the most important?
- What Is the turnover rate on the team (or, in this organization)?
- Do team members typically go out for lunch, or do they eat at their desks?
QUESTIONS FOR CLOSING THE CONVERSATION
- What additional skills or experience do you wish I had to make me a better fit for this position?
- Is there anything about my background or experience that you would change to make me a better fit for this role?
- I gotta ask you – based on the desired qualities you stated earlier, what is stopping you from hiring me right now?
- Do you have any concerns about my qualifications?
- Can I tell you why you should hire me?
- What can I clarify for you about my qualifications?
- Are there any other questions I can answer for you?
- What is your decision making process for this position?
- What are the next steps in the process?
- When can I expect to hear from you?
- Is there anything I can do between now and when you make your decision to improve my chances of getting the job?
- I was wondering what your best moment so far at [Company Name] was?
- What do you think success looks like in this job and how can I make the biggest possible impact?
- A year from now, you are giving me my first performance review. What have I done in the last year to get your highest performance rating?
QUESTIONS TO ASK POTENTIAL PEERS
- I have been looking forward to meeting you all and learning about what you do. Would each of you mind telling me about your jobs and what you do?
- What advice would you give a new hire trying to succeed on your team?
- What do you hope a new hire will bring to the team?
- How do you like to work and collaborate with others?
- History of promotions in the department
- How is performance recognized and valued by leadership?
- What values do leadership believe in and do they walk the walk?
- How is it to work for ______? What is it like working for ______? What kind of manager is ______?
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