Questions to Ask during a Job Interview

What to Say and What Not to Say In an Interview

Mar 31, 2009 Daniel Gansle

Knowing what questions to ask employers is very important during a job interview. Here's an overview of how to ask the right questions that will help to land the job.

Knowing what questions to ask employers is very important during the job interview process.

Asking the right questions can lead to a vibrant conversation about the candidate’s job experience and why he or she is a good fit for the position. Asking the wrong questions can lead to being shown the door.

Effective Job Interviewing: Questions to Ask the Employer

Essentially, the candidate should ask questions that focus mainly on the requirements of the position itself rather than secondary issues such as salary and benefits. The candidate needs to become very familiar with the tasks of the job and what he or she would be doing on a daily basis.

The candidate should also target interview questions toward what will make him or her successful in the position. This shows that the candidate is proactive and serious about his or her future success at the company.

Some important interview questions to ask include:

• What are the key skills vital to success in this position?
• What does the company do, and what is its mission?
• Why is this position is open? Is it a new position or a replacement?
• Is the work team-oriented or independent?
• What would the candidate be expected to accomplish in the first six months to a year on the job?
• Describe some of the projects the company is currently working on.
• Describe the work environment.
• How is the department where this position is located organized?
• How are employees evaluated and promoted?
• Does the company provide training for its employees?
• What are the challenging aspects of this position?
• What characteristics does the company seek in its new hires?
• What is the company’s idea of the best candidate for this position?
• What’s the next step in the hiring process?

Questions Not to Ask the Employer

While there are numerous questions the job seeker should ask the employer to get a good feel for the job, there are also some questions the candidate should absolutely avoid. These questions mainly center around pay and benefits. Examples include:

• How much does this position pay?
• Would it be okay to work from home?
• How many weeks off does the company offer?

Effective Job Interviewing: The Bottom Line

One of the keys to a successful job interview is knowing what questions to ask the employer and what questions to avoid.

While asking the wrong questions could lead to the job seeker being shown the door, asking the right questions will lead to a good understanding of what the job entails in addition to impressing the employer enough to put the job seeker in the company’s top list of candidates.

See related articles, "10 Steps to a Successful Job Interview," “How to Succeed in Any Type of Job Interview," and "How to Find a Job After a Period of Unemployment."

The copyright of the article Questions to Ask during a Job Interview in Career Advice is owned by Daniel Gansle. Permission to republish Questions to Ask during a Job Interview in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Job Interview