After feeling like you might have nailed your interview, your interviewer closes the conversation by asking if you have any questions. This could be the game-changer and where you feel like your nerves are kicking back in… if you haven’t done your research.
Thinking through the questions you want to ask beforehand and having them prepared for the interview will help you to answer with confidence and means you can leave the interviewer with the lasting good impression you wanted to give. It’s important to know that your interviewer isn’t trying to ‘catch you out’ by asking you if you have any questions. Of course, they will want to see that you’re keen to find out more about the role and the company, but by no means is this a way to make you feel bad about yourself. They’ll be genuine in asking and will want to cover anything you’re unsure of.
Prior to being sent to a job interview, you will have had the chance to read through a job specification. At this point, it’s a good idea to note down any questions you might have about the specific role you’re applying for. There’s a good chance that the interviewer might cover your questions before you’ve even asked them, and that’s another good reason as to why you should be actively listening to everything they have to say.
You should take this as an opportunity to genuinely find out more about the position and the company. It’s easy for candidates to forget that they should be interviewing the interviewer, as much as they’re being interviewed themselves. “Is this a place you can see yourself working? Is this the right career choice for you? Are you heading in the right direction for career progression?”
Below, we have outlined some of our favourite questions that you might want to incorporate into the end of your interview. Some of these might seem obvious, so only pick the ones that you feel haven’t been covered for yourself.
“What does a typical day here look like?”
“Are there any extra duties which haven’t been mentioned?”
“What are the biggest challenges of this role?”
“How many people work in this particular office/team?”
It’s highly likely that you’ll already be pretty confident on the duties on offer, if you’ve had the time to speak with your recruiter in detail. If this is the case and you’re finding yourself stumped for questions, it’s time to find out more about the company. It goes without saying that you should be researching the company before the interview, looking for valuable information that you could later ask about. Integrating facts that you have learned about the company will show the employer that you’re serious about the company and you have taken the time to find out more about the company and its culture.
Questions relating directly to the company could include:
“What are the company’s ambitions for the years ahead?”
“What is the culture of the company?”
“What are the company’s plans for growth and development?”
“How has the company changed over the past few years?”
Finally, it’s important (for your career development) that interviews are designed to be a two-way process. You should be confident that this is the right position and company for you, as much as they’re trying to find the right employee for the business. Articulating yourself clearly and presenting your best self will give you the best chance of being successful in your interview. We know that it can be tempting to say that you don’t have any questions to avoid any embarrassment of feeling like you’re asking a silly question, but as long as you follow the above guide, there is nothing to be embarrassed of. Good luck!