Young professionals and new grads oftentimes don’t know the right questions to ask after interviews, and sometimes blow their opportunities because of questions asked.
Here are top 10 good questions to ask, and top 10 questions you should try not asking after an interview.
Here are top 10 good questions to ask, and top 10 questions you should try not asking after an interview.
As always, no two interviews can be the same as there are always different factors that determine the direction of an interview.
The interviewer, the ambience, the questions answered and the ones you ask can all play different roles on the outcome.
The interviewer, the ambience, the questions answered and the ones you ask can all play different roles on the outcome.
Questions To Ask
1. Please describe the culture of your organization:
What this question does is subtly pass a message to the interviewer that you are also interested in wether the organization is the right fit for you. It is important that the fit is mutual.
1. Please describe the culture of your organization:
What this question does is subtly pass a message to the interviewer that you are also interested in wether the organization is the right fit for you. It is important that the fit is mutual.
2. Please shed more light on the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
Some job ads don’t do justice to outlining the day-to-day duties. Learning more about it also gives an insight to specific skills and strengths needed to excel on the role.
Some job ads don’t do justice to outlining the day-to-day duties. Learning more about it also gives an insight to specific skills and strengths needed to excel on the role.
3. Can you outline the typical career path for someone in this role?
Here, the interviewer will sense your need for career advancement. It also indicates your interest in growing within the org. However, don't ask in a way that'd sound self-serving.
Here, the interviewer will sense your need for career advancement. It also indicates your interest in growing within the org. However, don't ask in a way that'd sound self-serving.
4. What important qualities do I need to excel in this role?
Oftentimes, there are some valuable information that’s not included in the job description. This question can help unfold more about the expectations. That way, you can work towards being a good fit.
Oftentimes, there are some valuable information that’s not included in the job description. This question can help unfold more about the expectations. That way, you can work towards being a good fit.
5. What are the main challenges and opportunities the org is facing?
Thing is, if you know the org has recently launched a service / product you could work this into the question by asking how it’s being received. This also shows them that you’ve done your research.
Thing is, if you know the org has recently launched a service / product you could work this into the question by asking how it’s being received. This also shows them that you’ve done your research.
6. Can you tell me a bit about your background?
The interview should never be about you and the role alone. It's good to also show interest in the interviewer / recruiter. This also helps in building rapport & finding common ground with the person interviewing you.
The interview should never be about you and the role alone. It's good to also show interest in the interviewer / recruiter. This also helps in building rapport & finding common ground with the person interviewing you.
7. How is success defined for the team I will be working in?
This question will help highlight the organization's/ team priorities. Hence, you can compare and contrast with your own goals. It will also clarify what the business expects from their teams.
This question will help highlight the organization's/ team priorities. Hence, you can compare and contrast with your own goals. It will also clarify what the business expects from their teams.
8. Is there anything we haven’t discussed or that you want to know that would help you with the hiring decision?
This question helps you offer the opportunity to fill any gaps that the interviewer might have noticed. It also helps you dot all 'i's and cross all 't's.
This question helps you offer the opportunity to fill any gaps that the interviewer might have noticed. It also helps you dot all 'i's and cross all 't's.
9. Can you tell me the challenges I might face if hired for this role?
This is another opportunity for the interviewer to talk about the specifics of the role. It is also aimed at selling yourself. Like, “Oh, I faced a similar challenge, but here’s how I handled it…”
This is another opportunity for the interviewer to talk about the specifics of the role. It is also aimed at selling yourself. Like, “Oh, I faced a similar challenge, but here’s how I handled it…”
10. What are the next steps and when should I be expecting to hear from you?
What this question does is show that you are eager to move to the next stage. It also helps you gain vital info about the timeline for hiring. That way, you can follow-up appropriately.
What this question does is show that you are eager to move to the next stage. It also helps you gain vital info about the timeline for hiring. That way, you can follow-up appropriately.
You can remember by using these key points to ask questions at an interview:
- Specifics of Role
- My Team and Expectations
- My Learning and Development
- The Organizational Culture and Business Goals
- The Interviewer
- Next Steps
- Specifics of Role
- My Team and Expectations
- My Learning and Development
- The Organizational Culture and Business Goals
- The Interviewer
- Next Steps
Questions You Should Try Not Asking
1. Does the org monitor social media activities?
Except you are hiding something you really shouldn't ask this question. When you raise concerns like this, it becomes a red-flag.
1. Does the org monitor social media activities?
Except you are hiding something you really shouldn't ask this question. When you raise concerns like this, it becomes a red-flag.
2. Would you like to grab coffee or drink later?
There's been many cases of candidates asking interviewers this question. It's a NO-NO. This comes off as trying to influence the hiring decision, or that you are more interested in a date. If anything at all, let them initiate it.
There's been many cases of candidates asking interviewers this question. It's a NO-NO. This comes off as trying to influence the hiring decision, or that you are more interested in a date. If anything at all, let them initiate it.
3. Do you do background checks?
Again, are you hiding anything?
Thing is, this question seem harmless, but you might have less time to explain why you've asked. Don't sow a seed in the heart of the interviewer that you won't be able to harvest because it can affect opportunity.
Again, are you hiding anything?
Thing is, this question seem harmless, but you might have less time to explain why you've asked. Don't sow a seed in the heart of the interviewer that you won't be able to harvest because it can affect opportunity.
4. How soon and often will I be promoted?
Asking this kind of question will only make you come off as arrogant and somewhat entitled. There's a better way to ask about your development at the org and this isn't really a good way.
Asking this kind of question will only make you come off as arrogant and somewhat entitled. There's a better way to ask about your development at the org and this isn't really a good way.
5. What does this organization do?
Really? As much as the interviewer might tell you this, they expect you do your research as well.
Really? As much as the interviewer might tell you this, they expect you do your research as well.
I’d just summarize questions not to ask.
It is important to avoid questions that raise red flags on:
- Honesty
- Integrity
- First Impression
- Hard Work
- Security
- Patience
- Career growth
It is important to avoid questions that raise red flags on:
- Honesty
- Integrity
- First Impression
- Hard Work
- Security
- Patience
- Career growth
As always, it is important to engage in a professional manner.
Be Professional.
Speak Professionally &
Ooze Professionalism 😃...
...regardless of the role/job.
All the best!
Be Professional.
Speak Professionally &
Ooze Professionalism 😃...
...regardless of the role/job.
All the best!
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