4 Questions Job Seekers Should Ask in Their Next Interview


Posted August 11, 2019

A job interview should be a two-way street where people from the business learn about you, and you learn about the business.

Collecting information on a potential employer to figure out what makes an organization worth joining is crucial in an interview. The most critical part is figuring out if you can thrive in the work environment.

Almost every interview includes a bit where the candidate can ask questions. This is your opportunity to grab the information you need. Asking smart questions is also a way of showing off your preparation and insightfulness. Consider asking the following four questions in your next interview.

1.  What is the biggest challenge for this job?

A job description can tell you a lot about a job, but it usually doesn't go into detail on the biggest pain points, for fear of scaring off qualified candidates.

This question can provide you with details on what kind of challenging situations you could be facing. It could also give you the chance to talk about how you can handle the job's biggest challenge.

The response you get from an interviewer should tell you a great deal about the open position, so listen closely and follow up on any vague descriptions.

2.  When people are asked why they like working here, what do they say?

Because of the way it's phrased, this question can give you two types of information. First, it can reveal the biggest perks about working for the company. Maybe people like the relaxed atmosphere and regular socialization. Or, maybe they find the work to be extremely rewarding. Hopefully, the biggest perks are exactly what you want.

Second, this question can reveal something about the company culture. If people say they find the work rewarding, you can expect a high level of engaged employees around you. Or, if people say "the people" - you could expect an atmosphere where everyone gets along.

3.  How would my success be measured?

Expectations are a big part of success in a job. If you can find out exactly what is expected of you in an interview, you can determine your ability to meet those expectations.

Ideally, your interviewer should talk about meeting specific measurable goals. If they don’t, then evaluations of your performance could be very subjective, which can be a stressful situation.

4.  How did this job become available?

Ideally, you should hear something about an employee who was promoted within the company, or an expanding department. If you hear something about the last person "not working out," you need to follow up and find out why that person didn't work out so you can gauge your chances of success in the position.

Let Us Help You Prepare for Your Next Interview

At Ambassador, we connect job seekers to great opportunities with our clients and coach them through the application process. If you are looking for some added support in your job search, please contact us today to work with a full-service staffing firm.