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If you went on a date with someone and all they did was talk about themselves and not ask you any questions, would you go on a second date? It is likely that the answer would be no!

So going into an interview, how can you expect an employer to hire you if you don’t ask any questions?

Interviews are a two way street! They are put in place to help the employer see if you’re a good fit for the company but also so you can see if the company is a good fit for you.

Here are some questions you can ask in your next interview to help you stand out from other candidates applying for the position.

Let’s dive right in…

1. How will my successes be measured?
This helps you to get a really good idea of what is expected of you, how are you going to make your manager happy, how are you going to progress in the company.

2. Can you describe a typical day in this role?
Job descriptions outline the basic tasks you will be expected to do, but they don’t portray what a typical day would look like. This will help you to visualise what it is you’re going to be doing day to day. Remember that you are interviewing the company/Employer just as much as they are interviewing you so asking this question will help you to understand if the job role is the right fit for you. For example, you might find out that the part of the job that you were most excited about only comes up every six months, and this may affect your decision to work there.

3. What do you like about working here?
You can learn a lot by the way interviewers respond to this question. If the interviewer has so many good points to make, then clearly they love their job, but if you find their stuttering and are struggling to answer, you could consider this a red flag, it’s likely that it isn’t a great place to work, they don’t enjoy it so it’s likely you won’t enjoy it too. Another thing to note is if the only positive they can think of is their salary, this will tell you everything you need to know, this company may not be the right fit for you.

4. What are the next steps in the interviewing process?
It’s useful to know when you can expect to hear back from the hiring manager. For all you know they could be going on annual leave and you may not hear back for a few weeks, and in this time you may find yourself worrying about whether you have been successful or not, and there’s no point adding this stress to your life when you don’t have to. By asking this question, it also shows your enthusiasm for the role and your initiative to take control of a situation.

5. Where do you see the company heading in the next five years?
This question makes you as a candidate look really good to the employer, why? Because it shows that you have a real interest in the company, that you see a future there and you are committed to them. Asking this will help you get an insight into the company’s economic status too and tell you instantly whether your job will be secure here. You may also get a heads up on future projects that you could be involved in.

6. What are the biggest challenges someone working in this position would face?
You’ll be able to get a good understanding of the intensity of the role and what is expected of you. From this, you may feel that the position is above your capabilities and therefore not right for you. It’s easy for companies to downplay the true responsibilities and challenges of the role in the job description, so asking this helps you to get a better idea of what the job entails.

Looking for more interview tips?

Visit our interview tips pages and set yourself up for success for your next job interview.
Interview tips for:

Part-time/holiday jobs
Internships
Gap year & Temporary jobs
School leavers
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