Asking Interview Questions

It’s a job interview, so as a job seeker, your job is to answer questions. Really?

But you also have to be ready to ask pertinent questions. That’s part of the test. Asking the right questions makes you seem smart, thoughtful, prepared, and serious.

Rather than relying on the good ol’ standbys like “So, do you like working here?” see if you can come up with something more creative.

For instance, to tease out the type of culture this company generates, ask about specific ways the company culture benefits work.

To gauge the day to day of the workweek, ask the interviewer to give a sample “highlight” and “low moment” of any given workday.

Too many times I observe interviewees racking their brains to think of questions that will make them look smart. Here’s a better idea – try thinking about the interviewer, role and company to derive questions that will spur meaningful dialogue. As obvious as it sounds, use your questions to round out the conversation and gather information about the situation.

If you are wondering about other specific areas of the role, think ahead of time about how you can insert questions that will get at the answers you’re looking for.

Tip: If you’re working with a recruiter, we can give your our own insight into the role and company culture to help you come up with the right questions in the first place.