You already know that it’s important to provide good responses to interview questions and make a great first impression, but did you know it is important to ask good questions of your own as well? Interviews can bring about feelings of nervousness and excitement, and one sure way to calm your nerves is remembering that you are also interviewing them. It is an opportunity for you to learn more about the position and decide whether the job and company would be a good fit for you. 

Asking good questions not only helps you gather important information, but it also shows that you’ve done your homework. Here are some questions that can provide you with important insights on the position you are interviewing for.

What Can an Average Day Look Like?

While job descriptions offer an overview of the requirements of the position, what you envision when your read the job description may not represent the whole picture. The best way to get and understanding of what the job really looks like is to ask. Most jobs require balancing multiple priorities throughout the shift. If there are specific tasks that were what most attracted you to the job, it is better to find out early if they are only periodic responsibilities. 

How Can I Be Successful In This Role?

Learning what skills or traits are most vital to success serves two functions; it helps you evaluate how happy and successful your would feel in the position based on what your know about yourself, and, if offered the position, helps you excel by clarifying priorities and expectations from day one. The response to this question can be very telling and may be just the information you need to feel confident in your decision to pursue (or pass) on the job. 

 

 

What Does the Training Entail?

Is it an intensive formal process, or will you be expected to ‘hit the ground running’ from day one? Asking this question will help you understand what the company would expect of you starting out, and help you determine if you will have the tools you need to succeed. An entry-level worker may appreciate a longer training period, but someone with more proven experience in the field may find it repetitive. 

What Is The Company Culture Like?

Will you be working collaboratively with a close-knit team, or can you expect a high level of autonomy? Aside from job duties, your overall job satisfaction will also be greatly influenced by how well your work style, personality, and career goals align with those of the organization. Your work week will feel unnecessarily long and stressful if the company culture isn’t a fit, so it is an important factor to consider. 

 

 

Why Do You Like Working Here?

This question can help you learn things about the company and its culture that may not have otherwise been disclosed. Does the company promote from within? Do they support local community programs? Hearing about the things that make the company great from someone that currently works there will make it easier for you to picture yourself in that environment, and get a sense of how you would feel there. 

 

 

 

 

 

What Are The Next Steps?

And what is the company’s timeline for those steps? This will help you be realistic on when you should expect to hear back from them and quite possibly even get a little insight on how you did in the interview. The days (and weeks) following an interview can leave you agonizing over when or if they will call, and stressing over what it means if you haven’t heard from them yet. The best way to relieve that stress is to simply ask.