The process of interviewing for jobs can be daunting. Armed with all the interview preparation in the world, even the most confident interviewees get nervous from time to time. Your future may depend on this interview.
Get empowered by taking control of the situation. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, dive in and ask away. Asking questions makes your interview more like a back-and-forth conversation, relieving tension. It’s also your chance to interview the company so you can decide if it’s a good fit for you.
Why your interview questions need to be creative.
Plan your interview questions in advance so they’re useful and catchy. On top of that, the questions you ask an employer during an interview need to be creative. You don’t want to come off as a robot by reciting boring, meaningless questions.
Ask questions with open-ended responses. Questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no” don’t spark as much conversation. Open-ended questions will get your interviewer talking.
It also helps to have some background knowledge of the company. That way, you’ll demonstrate your interest while asking specific questions about the organization. By asking creative questions, you’ll be remembered as a well-prepared interviewee and leave a strong impression.
15 creative questions to ask your interviewer.
The possibilities for questions to ask in an interview are endless, and it might feel a bit overwhelming to come up with them on your own. Here are 15 sample questions to get you started. Choose a few from this list or use them for inspiration while creating your own.
1. “How can I achieve success while working at this company?”
Asking a question like this shows you have your eyes on the prize. It shows your potential employer that you care about your work and want to do well.
2. “What’s your favorite part about working for this business?”
Give your interviewer a chance to have the limelight. Everyone enjoys talking about themselves. You can get an idea of the company and exude a caring attitude.
3. “How do you practice teamwork within this company?”
The response to this question should give you an idea of how valuable teamwork is within the business. You might also gather some information about how employees are treated.
4. “How can I work my way up in the company?”
This is your chance to find out what advancement options will be available to you in the future. It also shows your potential employer that you’re committed for the long run.
5. “What are the company’s values?”
Here’s your chance to find out if the company’s values match up to your own values. Are they something meaningful that you can be excited about?
6. “How is your company working through its goals?”
You’ll get an idea of how the organization works as a whole and gain insight on your potential role there.
7. “What’s your plan for this role a month from now? A year from now?”
By asking questions about the future of the position you’re applying for, you can better understand your chances for promotion. Plus, you’ll be able to follow up at a later point in time should you get the job.
8. “What are the next steps in the hiring process?”
This question shows that you’re on the ball and thinking one step in advance. It’s a great way to demonstrate your organization and planning skills.
9. “Which qualities do you value in employees?”
Here’s where you’ll get another glimpse at how your potential employer thinks of employees. You can also get a feel if you’re the type of person they’re looking for, and if so, you can say that.
10. “What kind of competition does your business face?”
Learning about a company’s competition helps you predict what the job environment will be like. If there’s high competition, the work situation could potentially be stressful. The more you can get a feel for day-to-day details, the better decision you’ll make when choosing a job.
11. “How has workplace culture changed in your organization?”
A good leader should be conscious of the type of environment that surrounds her employees. If you ask this question and get a detailed response, you know the interviewer is engaged with the staff.
12. “What’s the future of this company?”
Another question to give you a better feel of the organization. By hearing your potential employer’s vision of the company’s future, you can try to understand where you’ll fit in that vision.
13. “Can you give me some examples of projects I’ll be working on?”
Not only will you gather useful information from this question, but you’ll also impress your interviewer. Asking this question shows you’re excited about the role.
14. “Why did you begin working for this company?”
This is another chance to let your interviewer talk about herself. You can also gain insight into whether the interviewer enjoys working for the company and how employees are treated.
15. “Who will I report to directly?”
It’s good to ask this question any time you start a new job, so why not just ask in the interview? You’ll learn a little about how company staff is structured and show your potential employer that you’re looking at the bigger picture.
Ask away
Now you have a pile of questions to help you get through the next interview with finesse. I don’t recommend asking all 15 questions — that would be a bit overboard. Instead, choose two or three questions you feel could give you insight into the company where you’re interviewing and impress your potential employer. Here are 7 more interview questions to give you inspiration.
With time and practice, your interview game will be both informative for you and your employer. Don’t forget to keep your questions creative (think outside of the box) so that you make a strong impression on your interviewer.
The 7 Questions You Must Ask At The End Of An Interview
A first impression is undoubtedly important, but so is the last. End your interview on the right foot by asking thoughtful questions that show your interest in the position and help you decide if the role is right for you.
Remember that the answers to questions you ask at the end of the interview should not be easily found online or in the materials provided to you during the application process. When preparing which interview questions to ask, start with these and add others that are particularly important to you.
1. Is this a new position? This question can give you a great deal of insight on the team you’re joining. If it’s a new role, the company could be growing. If you’re replacing someone, it might be an indication of high turnover or that they promote from within.
This question is number one for me because early in my career, I accepted a position where the woman I was replacing had no job lined up, she was just getting the heck out of that role. I quickly learned why that was the case and would have seen that as a red flag if I’d had more experience at the time. Tune in to those not-so-subtle clues.
2. What are the attributes of a top performer on this team? Use this question to learn what will be expected of you to be successful on the team. Is a top performer someone who is the last person to leave at night or is it someone who works autonomously to get things done? You want to be successful, so make sure that your values align with the new team’s expectations. Consider asking this question not just of your potential boss, but coworkers, too.
3. How would you describe the team dynamics? This is another great question to ask of all of your interviewers. You’ll hear a variety of perspectives about the culture, not just of the new team, but also the company. If you’re lucky enough to interview with someone outside of your team, that view is also important to learn about the department’s reputation.
4. What are the main challenges in this position? Make sure to ask this question to get a clear picture of what tests you’ll face in the role. Every position has its challenges, and it’s far better to learn about them in the interview process so you can decide if and how you’ll tackle them. Trust your gut when it comes to which challenges excite or stretch you versus which feel heavy or filled with dread.
5. What do you like best and least about working here? From this question, you’ll get a glimpse at the reasons that people stay at the company and what may tempt them to leave. This way you can confirm whether or not you want the job.
6. What has your career path been like? Like the prior question, this one gives your interviewers the opportunity to talk about themselves and can give you lots of information about career progression. Has the interviewer risen through the ranks or stayed in the same position for several years? Has she moved around to different departments and had the opportunity to learn about other parts of the business? Listen closely to hear if she has faced any roadblocks and who has supported her along the way.
7. Do you have any concerns about my candidacy? It takes guts to ask this question. While it can feel very scary to confront the interviewers’ apprehensions head-on, it gives you the opportunity to directly address any concerns that they have and make the case for your candidacy. Stand your ground and explain why you’re the best fit!
These questions will help you end your interview with a bang, showing that you are taking special care in selecting the right role and ensuring that you will fit in with the team and company. Don’t be afraid to add others to the list. Finding the right role now means you won’t have to look again sooner than later.
Looking to ace all aspects of your interview, not just the end? Check out our comprehensive interview guide. We cover everything from what to wear, when to show up, to how to follow up (and everything in between!). Oh, and if you need to reschedule in the event of unforeseen circumstances, check out this guide.
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