What Should You Ask the Company at Your Next Job Interview?

Posted April 18, 2016

With the job market currently favoring job seekers, people interviewing for a job should feel more confident than ever in asking their interviewer questions about the company there are applying to.

Asking questions in an interview has two primary purposes. First, the interview is a major opportunity to learn about where you might fit into the company. Second, asking questions in the right way affords you the chance to show off your knowledge about, and enthusiasm for, the job.

Most employers expect you to ask at least two questions about the job during the interview, but it's generally best to have at least four prepared.

"What does success in the position look like?"

While a job description can lay out the basic duties of a job, it often doesn't necessarily spell out how to prioritize those duties to the greatest effect.

One of your questions should ask about how to handle the duties of the job in a way that will lead to success within the company. If you truly know what is important to an employer, you can figure out if the position plays to your strengths.

Ideally, your interviewer should be able to discuss how one or more people were able to meet their obligations and advance within the company, or otherwise earn recognition.

"What are the biggest challenges?"

Like the previous question, this question is designed to figure out if your personal strengths play to the job you are applying for. If the interviewer doesn't mention any major challenges, try to prompt them for more information on the specific day-to-day tasks of this role.

"How do workers and managers typically collaborate?"

The purpose of this question is to learn about the relationships between frontline workers and management. You should want to work at a company where different levels of the company pull together from time to time, rather than a company where workers are constantly being dictated to.

If the interviewer can't quickly come up with a good example or avoids the question, press further to determine why. There are some instances where regular collaboration might be counterproductive.

"Do you see any areas where my qualifications fall short?"

Asking this question sends the message that you are confident enough in your abilities that you are able to take some criticism or hear bad news. It also sends a signal that you're open to being coached and growing in the role. Basically, it's the kind of question that should earn you respect from your interviewers.

If your interviewer does bring up some areas, be sure to defend your qualifications in an intelligent and respectful way. If there seems to be a lot of concern on their part, it could be a sign the odds are against you and you should start looking elsewhere.

At Ambassador, we work tirelessly to put our job candidates in the best position to succeed in their job interviews. If you are interested in the opportunities we have in store, contact one of the leading employment firms in the South today!