It is important to do your due diligence and research well in advance. Interview discussions must go both ways, and the only way to achieve a two-way conversation is by preparing questions for the interviewers.
Make a list of questions to ask during the interview. Refrain from asking common questions that you can find answers to online. Instead, focus on questions that show that you did your due diligence on the company and want to learn more about the opportunity.
Here are some of the questions you should ask during your interview.
1. Questions about the company
Visit the company website to get an understanding of their corporate mission and stay current with any relevant news articles highlighting their recent achievements. Be aware of the trends in the industry and the company. This will show that you are genuinely interested in the company.
How does this role fit in with the company’s mission of __________?
Do you also feel that the company will lead the industry and evolve by __________ in the next 5 years?
2. Questions about the job
You want to show that you are interested in the job and have put a lot of thought into the opportunity.
What are your expectations for success in this role?
What is the most challenging part of this position?
3. Questions about logistics
These questions are meant to better understand the next steps in the process. You want to phrase them in such a way, to sound professional.
Thank you so much for meeting with me today. What can I expect, in terms of next steps?
Is there anything else I can do to provide more information, or otherwise follow up with your team?
HRCap TIP 15: What NOT to ask
Salary questions: Questions regarding salary should be done AFTER an official offer is made (refer to Chapter 6 for more info)
Specific demands: Do not forcefully demand or negotiate offer terms.
Personal questions: They can help break the ice in the beginning, but do not ask them during the job interview.