1. How does your company measure success?
This question shows you’re eager to be successful in the new role. It gives the interviewer a chance to explain what success looks like to their company and how they measure employees’ achievements. This question is useful to ask since the job description typically covers skills, duties and qualifications, rather than the metrics for success.
2. What’s one of your favorite memories of working here?
Your interviewer’s response can tell you a lot about the company culture. If they’re eager to share multiple memories, this response can indicate you may have a good time working there. It also shows that employee morale is high, especially if you’re on a panel interview and every member has positive memories to share.
3. What is the company culture like here?
While you can learn some basic information about the company culture by looking at its website, social media presence and online reviews, this question is still useful to ask. The interviewer’s response can provide you with more in-depth information about the company’s values and its employees. It can help you decide if your personality and work style align with the culture of the company.
4. Does the company host any team-building activities?
Asking this question can show employers you’re comfortable with the social aspects of a job. In many positions, teamwork is an essential skill that can help you do your job effectively. The interviewer’s answer to this question can help you envision if you want to participate in these kinds of activities.
5. Does the company offer any career development opportunities?
If you value career growth and professional development, consider asking this question during your interview. This way, you can learn if an employer offers any additional training, education reimbursement or other educational opportunities. Knowing this information can help you determine if the new position aligns with your long-term career goals.
6. What’s your favorite part about working here?
You can tell if an interview went well when you feel excited about the position. This question helps you decide if this employer is going to help you enjoy coming to work every day. It gives the interviewer a chance to impress you with all the great things their company does for employees.
7. What advice would you give to a new employee working here?
Prepare yourself for the role by learning how you can do well from the start. If you’re offered the position, you can use this advice when you begin working in your new job. This question can also help you learn more about the expectations for the role and the company culture.
8. Where do you see the company two years from now?
If you’re interested in the growth of the company, this is a smart question to ask. This way, you can tell if the company has a promising future. This question can also provide insight into some challenges or opportunities the company may have while you’re working there.
9. How does the company respond to employees’ concerns?
Asking this question is a good way to learn about how well the company takes care of its employees. This question shows your interviewer that you value open communication. It can help you determine if you’re going to receive the support you desire to feel comfortable suggesting changes or sharing feedback.
10. How do employees emphasize the company’s mission?
This question can help you learn more about the company’s employees and how they strive to uphold the values or achieve the goals of the business. Asking this question also shows employers you’ve researched the company and understand its mission. This research can show your commitment and dedication to the position, which can help you impress hiring managers.
11. How does your company ensure it’s prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in the hiring process?
Asking about a company’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) during the interview process signals to the employer that you value a diverse and inclusive work environment. Secondly, it allows you to gain insight into how the company approaches these issues, which can help you evaluate whether you may feel comfortable and supported in the workplace. Asking this question can help to hold the employer accountable for their commitment to diversity and inclusion. By asking about their approach to DEI, you’re encouraging the employer to consider the importance of it in their recruitment practices and overall company culture.
Smart interview questions about the role
Here are 10 examples of smart questions to ask in an interview about the role for which you’re interviewing:
12. What kinds of challenges can I expect in this role?
Before accepting a job offer, it’s helpful to anticipate what kinds of barriers your prospective employer expects you to overcome. This question can give you insight into what challenges the company may be experiencing. It could even lead to a further conversation where you can show employers you’re eager to take on a challenging role.
13. Can you elaborate on the daily duties of this role?
If you still feel unsure about the duties of the job, this question can help the interviewer provide you with more details. When they answer this question, listen carefully so that you can understand what you may be doing in this role. This question can help you determine if you feel ready to perform responsibilities and whether you can see yourself doing this kind of work every workday.
14. What’s the training process for this role?
When starting your first day of work, it’s helpful to know what to expect so you can feel confident and prepared. This question can help you learn what kind of onboarding process an employer uses. It also shows that having proper training is important to you as a new employee.
15. Who would I be working with the most?
While job descriptions tend to include the name of the department or supervisor of the position, some employers may leave out this information. Asking this question can help you determine who your potential team members and manager may be. With this information, you can even look them up on the company’s team page to learn more about your potential co-workers.
16. What can I do to succeed in this role?
This is a smart question to ask an interviewer because it shows them you’re eager to add value to their team. When starting a new job, you want to impress your employer and co-workers. Having this information can give you some leverage as you get started.
17. What are some projects I would be working on?
This question helps you learn about the scope of work in the new position. If you feel excited about the projects the employer discusses, then this job might be a good fit for you. If not, you may either want to learn more about the role or search for a better opportunity.
18. Can I expect this role to evolve over time?
If you’re looking for a job with room for growth, this is an excellent question to ask. It can help you figure out if you can progress in your profession while working for the company. If you prefer to work in a stable job without change, this question can also help you determine if this position matches your preferences.
19. What does the ideal candidate for this role look like?
This question can help you gauge if you’re the right fit for the role. If the employer lists a lot of credentials you have, this might be a good sign for you. If you get this position, this question also helps you learn what skills you can develop to be successful in the role.
20. If I want to do well in this role, what skills can I focus on?
Learn what hard and soft skills are essential to the role by asking this question. This question gives your interviewer the opportunity to elaborate on what abilities can help you succeed in this role. If you already have a lot of the skills they’re listing, this can be a sign that you’re prepared for the job.
1. Is there anything I could improve upon to be more qualified for this role?
While this question may be direct, it can help you get some useful feedback from your interviewer. If you don’t get the job offer, you can know what to work on becoming qualified for a similar role. If you do get a job offer, you can know what skills to work on when you start.
22. Would I be filling someone’s position, or is this a new role?
This question can help you determine the expectations of the role. For instance, if you’re taking over a vacant position, the employer may expect you to do similar or even better work than the previous employee. If it’s a new role, the position can give you the chance to prove how the company or team may benefit from hiring you.
23. What clients would I be working with directly?
While it’s important to know some of the company’s clients in advance, this question gives you more insight into the projects you may handle in the new position. Make a note of your interviewer’s answer so you can research the clients they discuss. Use this information to decide if these are clients you’re interested in working with, which can help you decide if it’s the right job for you.
24. Do you have any additional questions for me?
Asking this question gives your interviewer the opportunity to inquire more about a certain part of your work experience or skills. It also helps you determine how well the interview is going. If the interviewer says you’ve adequately described your qualifications, this response may indicate you’ve answered their questions effectively. If the interviewer decides they have more questions, you can use this opportunity to provide a clearer perspective into your professional background and qualifications.
25. How often do employees interact with leadership?
This question can help you learn the leadership styles of managers or executives within the company. Based on the interviewer’s response, you may learn how often management interacts with employees or whether the company has a top-down hierarchy. If you prefer to work in a company where leaders are accessible, this question can help you determine if that’s the culture of this business.
26. Do you have a process for giving employees feedback?
Performance reviews and regular feedback are great ways to learn how you’re doing in your role. Based on your interviewer’s answer, you may be able to tell if this workplace gives employees enough feedback and praise. If the company has a feedback system in place, it’s likely managers care about providing employees with information about their performance and ways they can improve.
27. What are the next steps in the hiring process?
This can be the final question to ask at the end of your interview. It’s an effective way to ask an interviewer when you can expect to hear from them about their hiring decision. It gives you a timeline of how long their interview process may take. Asking this question also shows you’re looking forward to hearing from the employer after the interview.