20 Questions to Ask an Employer in a Job Interview
Asking questions of your hiring committee during a job interview can help you win over employers. Preparing questions ahead of time demonstrates that you are a viable candidate who takes initiative and seeks answers through research. Additionally, having your own questions can show that you are hoping to find an organization in which you feel you will be a good fit. Job seekers should feel empowered to treat the job interview as an opportunity to discover if YOU want to work at this company. Ask yourself – what would you want to know about this company before moving forward?
We compiled a list of 20 interview questions from Harvard Business Review, Indeed and Ethical Jobs.com to help you choose the most relevant questions to ask during your next job interview.
Compose at least one question based on what you have learned from the organization's website or social media posts. Indeed offers this example, "I noticed on the company website that you plan to open more office branches later this year. Can you tell me more about how the company is expanding?"
Follow-up or expound on a question/statement from the interviewer. For example, "You mentioned that I would be required to complete X or work on project Y: How will I be supported in that effort? Could you tell me more about the project?"
Is the company going through any major changes?
What does a typical day look like in this role?
How will I be supported in my transition to this company? What is the training process like?
What will the company's expectations of me be during the first 90 days? 6 months? 1st year?
How have past employees been successful in this position?/What have they done to succeed?
What are some challenges you've seen people in this role or on this team encounter?
How is the organization addressing challenges?
What is the performance review process like here?
Can you tell me about the team I'll be working with?
What types of skills/strengths is the team in need of that you're looking to fill with a new hire?
How do you support the professional growth of your staff?
What do new employees typically find surprising after they start?
How would you describe your organization's culture? (Take responses with a grain of salt as an employer is not likely to speak negatively about the organization's culture.)
Do you anticipate that the responsibilities of this job will change in the near future, or over the next year?
What is on the horizon for the company's growth and development?
What does the career path for someone in this role look like?
Is there anything else I can clarify for you about my qualifications?
What are the next steps in the hiring process?