Job Interview Questions To Ask (And Avoid) To Land The Role
Ever found yourself at the end of a promising job interview only to go completely blank when asked if you have any questions? You researched plenty of interview questions and answers but forgot to come armed with questions of your own.
A good job interview is a two-way conversation that flows and feels natural. So, as a candidate, you should feel comfortable and confident asking questions.
With this in mind, you're probably wondering: what are the best questions to ask to make a good impression and land the role?
In our latest blog, we're sharing our expert tips on questions to ask your interviewer so you can crush your next job interview.
Is it normal to ask questions if you're being interviewed?
Yes!
There's often this outdated idea that the purpose of an interview is for a company to grill a candidate and decide if they're worthy of a job there.
But an interview isn't an interrogation! It's just as much for you as it is for the company.
Now, more than ever, good interviews are a two-way conversation that feels natural and flowing.
Yes, your interviewer wants to find out whether you're the right fit for the job, but you're there to explore whether the job is the right fit for you, as well.
By the way, if you're looking for common interview questions the hiring manager might ask you during the interview process, read this blog on interview preparation full of tips and advice.
Why is it important to ask questions in a job interview?
This is your opportunity to find out about the company culture, career growth prospects, team, and general working environment to decide if it's right for you.
It's also a chance to explore the organisation's wider values and mission so you can see how it aligns with your ethics and beliefs.
Plus, asking great questions also shows the interviewer you're a confident person who takes the lead and shows interest in people and situations.
We always recommend preparing relevant questions that will help you make an impression and find out the information you need. From our experience working with candidates over three decades, winging it runs the risk of red faces and awkward silences - not exactly a recipe for a successful outcome.
Should you only ask questions at the end of a job interview?
No! Of course, there are different types of interviews, from a casual chat to a formal interview process with various stages, so it depends on the format.
However, as a general rule, we always advise our candidates to ask creative questions throughout the interview so it feels like a conversation, rather than waiting until the end.
What are the top interview questions to ask your interviewer?
So, here are some smart questions to ask in an interview.
Of course, every organisation is different, so use this list of sample questions as a guide and personalise it using the job description and your own research on the company you're interviewing with.
Also, think about your personal goals and values to make sure the questions you prepare will give you the information you need to move forward.
Why are you recruiting for the current job position? Understanding the motivation behind the job opening can provide valuable insights into the company's current needs and priorities.
What plans do you have for the growth and development of the business? Learning about the company's plans can give you a steer on where it could take you and your career.
What do you aim to achieve by making this appointment? This question can help clarify the specific goals and expectations associated with the job at hand.
What challenges do you anticipate I'll face in my first few months in the role? Understanding the potential obstacles upfront allows you to mentally prepare and demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
What is the company's stance on remote work and flexible scheduling? Such a hot topic right now and a major concern for most employees. You know how you work best, so find out if their policies fit with you.
Why do you like working here? What keeps/brings you to work for 'X business'? Ask this question to understand more about the company culture and what makes it unique.
What is the culture of your business like? Does it sound like it aligns with your values and the way you like to work?
When are you looking for someone to start the position? More on the practical side, but knowing the expected start date can help you plan accordingly and manage your current commitments.
Can you share an employee success story? What was their journey like? Hearing about the experiences of other employees can give you a sense of the opportunities for growth and development within the company.
If I were to accept this position, what would success look like? Understand from the get-go what's expected of you and how job performance is measured and celebrated.
Who will I be reporting to? This helps you picture yourself in the role and where you slot into the wider team.
Tell me about my direct team. Can I spend some time with them? Getting to know your potential new colleagues can give you a good handle on the team dynamics and collaboration opportunities - you'll probably get a feel for whether they're the kind of people you'll gel well with.
From what I've shared today, is there any reason you wouldn't offer me the role? A bold one, but it's good to get a handle on whether you're right for the job you're interviewing for to avoid an agonising wait later. It also shows you're open to feedback and gives you the chance to address and mitigate any potential concerns upfront (for example, a lack of experience in a certain part of the job), or even explore whether you'd be a better fit for a different role within the organisation.
Aside from salary, what other workplace benefits do you offer your staff? Exploring the company's benefits will help you assess the overall value proposition of the job offer - are they generic and not actually benefits (like standard annual leave allowance), or creative and interesting perks that excite you?
What training opportunities are available? Would there be any opportunity for further study? Does this sound like somewhere you can learn, grow, and progress? Or will you be stuck at a standstill in your career?
Can you describe the typical day-to-day responsibilities of this role? What will an average day look like? Can you see yourself getting a good level of job satisfaction from the tasks involved?
What are the company's short-term and long-term goals, and how does this position contribute to achieving them? Where do you fit into the bigger picture, and are the company's goals interesting to you? If not, you're unlikely to feel motivated to help achieve them.
How does the company promote work-life balance among its employees? Very important - a company's approach to work-life balance can help you work out whether it truly cares about the wellbeing of its employees.
What is the onboarding process like for new employees? Onboarding is a crucial part of the recruitment process, so it's useful to know how new hires are welcomed into the team.
How does the company foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace? Is this a supportive and inclusive work environment for all?
What opportunities exist for mentorship or professional development within the company? This shows you have an appetite to grow and progress, which will impress the panel while educating you on whether it's a job that allows plenty of development.
Can you tell me about a recent project or initiative the team has worked on? Hearing about recent projects can give you insights into the team's dynamics, collaboration style, and the types of challenges they tackle.
What are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the company/department right now? Delve deeper into the broader context at play within the organisation and how your work will impact that.
How does the company support employee wellness and mental health? Again, asking a wellbeing-related question will help you work out if it's really a priority, or simply a tick-box exercise.
Can you describe the decision-making process within the company/department? Start to understand how decisions are made and how you will navigate the organisational structure effectively. Will you have any autonomy and sway? And who will you need to go to to sign off new ideas, projects, suppliers, and strategies?
How does the company encourage and incorporate feedback from employees? How open are they to employee input and continuous improvement? This will speak volumes about the kind of company it is.
Many of these are 'stand-alone' questions, but it's also great to ask follow-up questions in an interview - for example, "Can you tell me more about that?" or "How does that work in practice?"
Job interview questions to avoid
OK, so now you know the questions to prepare ahead of time, here are some to avoid asking during your next interview.
Personal questions: While you can ask about their position at the company or their professional background (to an extent), avoid asking the interviewer anything too personal or sensitive.
Questions about time off or breaks: While it's important to understand the company's policies regarding time off, asking about holidays and breaks time or time off before you've received a job offer can give the impression that you're more focused on your personal time than on the job itself.
Questions about the company's financial stability or performance: By all means do your background research in this area, but it's generally not considered appropriate to probe in this area.
Negative questions about your current company or a previous job: Avoid asking negative questions or making disparaging comments about your last job or employer - it comes across as unprofessional.
Questions related to the job or the company that have already been answered: If it's been covered, this can come across like you're not listening and haven't read the job description properly. Not a good sign!
Questions that show a lack of preparation: Asking for basic company information that could've easily been found during a quick scan of the website can signal to your interview panel that you haven't done the necessary prep, which doesn't make a good impression.
Illegal or discriminatory questions: Hopefully it doesn't need saying that you should avoid asking any discriminatory or illegal interview questions, like questions related to race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics.
How many questions should you prepare?
Two or three questions are a good amount to conclude the interview, but it's useful to have more than this prepared to ask throughout at relevant points in the conversation.
In addition to preparing questions, feel free to ask something that comes up naturally during your chats, as this shows you're listening and curious to learn more about the role and organisation.
So if you want to ask something and it's appropriate, go for it!
What other interview preparation should I do?
So you've got your list of questions sorted, what else do you need to do?
Get support finding your dream job
Hopefully, this blog post has equipped you with plenty of questions ahead of time to walk into your interview feeling confident. Ask these questions to show insight and interest, and make sure to put your own spin on them.
If you're reading this, we're guessing you might be looking for a job at the moment, so we'd love to help.
We're Cummins Mellor, a recruitment agency based in Blackburn, Lancashire.
We work with candidates and businesses to match the right person with the right role.
Once we've successfully secured an interview for you, you'll receive personalised interview tips and advice on specific questions we believe your interviewer will ask, based on conversations we've had with them.
Plus, we'll also suggest relevant questions for you to ask in a job interview so you feel fully prepared and super confident walking into the room.
If you need more help getting ready, we can do a full mock interview with you where we'll run through a list of interview questions and help you come up with sample answers that will help build your confidence and knowledge ahead of time.
Whether you're looking for a full-time job or some temporary work to tide you over, we can you find the right job for you.
