questions job seekers should ask during an interview

Just like every employee is different, no two bosses are the same. This question requires your potential boss to be self-aware of their strengths and shortcomings, though they’ll likely focus on the good! Nonetheless, you can get some great insights about their work style and whether it meshes with yours.

Every hiring manager has a different idea of what makes an excellent employee. So it’s never a bad idea to ask what they’re looking for. You might just gather something unexpected that isn’t in the job description. Just remember to agree and explain how you use those very same skills!

It’s always nice to know what employees on the inside have to say about the company they’re working for. You’re looking for someone who is enthusiastic and positive about the future outlook of the company. If they’re guarded and don’t have anything nice to say, consider it a red flag.

This question allows you a chance to address how you can help solve some of the priority issues the company is currently facing. Just be careful not to insult the current team. You want to present yourself as a great addition to the existing team, not a savior who will parachute in and fix what they couldn’t.

This question is a double whammy. It shows off your industry knowledge and at the same time expresses your interest in the company. Just be sure to ask about something insightful that’s a legitimate concern at the company (and that the answer is not obvious or public knowledge!)

It’s nice to know that what metrics will be used to measure your success before you sign onto the job. It’ll help you get a feel for whether the job and its requirements fit with your preferred style of working. If there’s a mismatch it’s better to know now, rather than after you’ve been hired.

Sometimes the job description may not clearly lay out how much time you’ll spend on various tasks, or even what exactly those tasks will be. This question will give you a better idea of what you’ll be doing on a daily basis, and how most of your time will be spent.

It can be interesting to have your interviewer boil down the complexities of a job description into a single quality. It’ll help you focus on what’s most important, and reinforce that you have this quality that they’re looking for, hopefully with examples.

This is a great question to help you understand the potential for advancement at the company. If having a hierarchy to climb is important to you, this is a great way to ask without asking point-blank about promotions, which can seem presumptive when you haven’t been hired yet.

If someone filled the position and it is no longer filled, there is probably a good reason. The hiring manager will answer this carefully and will provide you with some openness to this question.

If they fired someone or the person quit, you might not get a straight answer in the interview. However, use your intuition. If hired, you can help build the role if it is a new position.

That's an exciting experience. Knowing why the position is open can help us understand how the team and company can adjust. A chance to show your problem-solving skills and shape the role to fit your strengths and the organization's needs.

This only works if the manager is interviewing you you'll be working with. If this is the case, it will tell you more about the pressures and motivations of the person hiring you. It can also give you a strong impression of who your future boss is, how they handle pressure, and the company culture. It isn't a good sign if they can't explain what impact they're hoping you'll have.

On top of that, understanding the manager's expectations helps you understand the vision for your position. This clarity helps you understand how your role fits into the team and company goals. It also helps you align your career goals with the organization's mission.

A great interview tip is asking what project you should expect to get on the job. Usually, there are always specific projects on the go in any given department. Perhaps tax time is coming up, or the Anderson account, which comes annually, is looming.

To gauge whether you want the job, you need to understand what challenges you might face. It also tells you a bit more about why they are hiring. You demonstrate your proactive approach and eagerness to contribute by asking about upcoming projects. Understanding what the team is focused on and the problems they are dealing with right now will be helpful to you.

This info helps you see if you fit in the team and show your real interest in making a difference.

Make sure to read the job description so that you're aware of all the tasks that the job entails. Once you review the job description, you can now think of questions about processes and how you will complete certain tasks.

Asking about your potential job shows that you understand how X can be done or has been done elsewhere. It also offers a keen interest in the job and your specific responsibilities.

The answer you receive to this question might astonish you, too. You'd be surprised how often you'll receive a response like "We don't have a formal system for this." An answer like this is an opportunity for you to provide the structure where there was none before.

Just like every employee is different, no two bosses are the same. This question requires your potential boss to be self-aware of their strengths and shortcomings, though they’ll likely focus on the good! Nonetheless, you can get some great insights about their work style and whether it meshes with yours.

Every hiring manager has a different idea of what makes an excellent employee. So it’s never a bad idea to ask what they’re looking for. You might just gather something unexpected that isn’t in the job description. Just remember to agree and explain how you use those very same skills!

This is a question you should consistently pose. When it comes down to it, understanding the team dynamic that you'll be working in is critical to your success in the role. Asking this question is a good idea as it might help the hiring manager consider you as part of the team. Asking questions can also lead to sharing a story about working in a group or with people, as they have described.

Asking about the team's dynamics shows you want to work together and helps see if you fit the company's work environment. To fit in with a team and determine if you're a good fit, it's important to understand how people communicate. Understanding how people collaborate and understanding the overall work culture is also important. 

When you ask this question, your interviewer will most likely offer up something positive like an added perk that isn’t on the job description. Don’t be alarmed if your interviewer takes a moment to answer, thinking up something unexpected can be a challenge if they’re not expecting the question!

No one knows the company better than the people who work there. Even if you’ve heard of the company and have done some research into what they’re all about, you’ll likely learn something. Also, it’s a fun, positive question. There’s almost no way for this question to go sour.

This question can seem a bit ballsy at first glance and that scares some job seekers, but it’s smart for one very good reason: either your interviewer admits you’re great, or you have a chance to refute any doubts they might have about why you’re the right fit for the role.

Asking about next steps is basic, but it’s a good way to cap off your interview because it shows that you’re interested and looking forward to the next steps. It also gives you a timeline, so you’ll know when you should hear from the recruiter next, and therefore when to follow up.