
Interviews are a two-way street. The company’s goal during the interview is to discover if you’re the right fit for their organization, and you need to decide if the opportunity is the right fit for you, too. The best way to do this? By asking questions.
Plus, showing up to your interview prepared with questions for the interviewer is a great way to show them that you’re serious about the position.
So, what kind of questions should you ask the interviewer?
Here are 20 sample questions to ask in a job interview.
The Job
When it’s your turn to ask questions, typically towards the end of the interview, start by asking questions about the ins and outs of the job, the training process, performance, and who you will be working with:
- What does a typical day look like in this position?
- Why is the team looking to fill this role?
- What skills and experience are you looking for in an ideal candidate?
- What challenges could I expect to face in this position?
- What does the training process look like?
- Who would I be working closely with?
- Which other departments would I work with?
- Who will I report to directly?
- How is performance evaluated in this position?
- What would a successful hire accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
The Company
Be sure to ask questions about the company, including its future and what the culture is like:
- Where is the company heading in the next 5 years?
- Are there plans for company growth?
- Are there opportunities to advance in the company?
- Does the company offer professional development or learning opportunities?
- What is your favorite part about working for this company?
- What is the company culture like? See more company culture questions here.
The Hiring Process
Lastly, ask about the next steps. This will hopefully give you a timeline of the process and help you decide when to follow up. You also want to make sure the interviewer has all they need from you. To wrap up the interview, ask:
- How soon is the company looking to hire for this role?
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
- When can I expect to hear from someone about the next steps?
- Have I answered all your questions?
Conclusion
You shouldn’t ask all 20 of these questions for the sake of time, but you also shouldn’t need to. Hopefully, the employer already answered a good number of them when telling you about the position and company.
Each company, job, and interview process is different – so be sure to tailor these questions and come up with additional ones as needed. It’s also helpful to have your questions written down so you can reference them during the interview.
Now, go crush that interview!
For more interview and career tips, check out our blog and follow AgHires on social media.