5 Interview Questions to Ask Employers at the End of your Meeting
Questions to Ask in an Interview That Make You Stand Out
You’ve reached the end of the interview, and then comes the question: “Do you have anything to ask us?”
If only you had a handful of interview questions to ask employers, you could take this opportunity to make a great impression and stand out from other candidates.
Why You Must Ask Questions at the End of an Interview
Interviewing is an essential part of landing a job, but it can often be difficult to know what to ask a potential employer.
You can, and should, always ask questions before you leave the interview. This will help to really assess whether the company is right for you.
Just as important, this is your chance to prove that you have done your research, have the market knowledge required, and possess the skills and personality that make you the perfect fit for the business to hire.
If you aren’t asked explicitly, then tell the interviewer that you have a few questions of your own.
When you do ask these final questions, a good trick is to make sure that you anchor them in the research that you have done. This way, they will sound sincere.
How do you do this? Here’s an example:
“I saw ‘x’ in the press recently. Could you tell me how you think this might affect your business, and what opportunities it could present for you?”
Five Unique Interview Questions to Ask Employers
Asking questions that will make you stand out is all in the preparation.
Think about what you want from the role, what you want to learn about the company, and to whom you are speaking. This will be the foundation of your research, and you can use this to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position through the questions you ask.
Divide your questions into five areas:
1. The Job Role
Of course you want to know what your role will be should you be offered the job. It’s likely that you will have covered much of this during the interview, so have questions that you could ask here:
“What are the key areas of focus?”
“What was the most valuable skill the previous person had?”
“What are the top 3 attributes this person will need to be successful in the long term?”
Why are these great questions?
You want to demonstrate that you are eager to take on the responsibility and duties of the role, that you could easily fit into the shoes the previous incumbent filled, and that you have ambition to make this a long-term role. These questions accomplish these goals, and they give you the opportunity to respond and reaffirm why you are the best-fit candidate.
2. The Business
By asking questions about the business, you show that you are not tunnel-visioned about the job. You take a wider view, and are interested in how the business works, its role in the world, and its future. Two great questions to ask an interviewer are:
“What are the main challenges within the business at the moment?”
“Where do you see the business going in three years’ time?”
Why are these great questions?
Both these questions will help you get a clearer picture of how your potential boss thinks, and about the strategy the business has in the current market. More than this, though, they give you the chance to demonstrate your optimism. For example, when discussing challenges to the business, you could then rephrase them as opportunities. When discussing the future for the business, you can enthuse about the way this aligns with your personal growth plan.
3. Culture
Culture is an especially important part of a workplace, and it is something that you should discuss. It’s crucial to know that you will get on with those you work with, and within the company you are working for. Questions you ask here should give you the opportunity to assess whether the corporate culture is reflected in how your new team works, including the social aspects of work. here are some examples:
“Do you do anything as a team outside of office hours?”
“How would you describe the working environment?”
“What are the personalities of the colleagues that this role will work with?”
Why are these great questions?
By asking these questions, you have the chance to learn more about the team, and show how well you would fit in. You also demonstrate that culture is important to you, and that your personality and attitude will make you a great hire.
4. The Interviewer
This will be the person you will be working for. It’s good to show that you are interested in him or her, and that your working relationship is important to you. Here’s an example:
“I saw on LinkedIn that you used to work for ‘ABC’ – how did you find the transition going from that business to your current one?”
Why is this a great question?
It shows that you have done your research. It also shows that you are keen to take the interviewer’s advice and learn from his or her experience.
5. The Final Question
Here is the final question that you should always ask:
“Is there anything that you’d like me to explain further?”
Why is this a great question?
You want to leave the interviewer with no doubts that you are the candidate the business should employ. This question gives him or her the opportunity to probe on any weaknesses they feel you may have, and you to correct them on their misconception.
Three Questions Never to Ask at an Interview
You’ve spent your time wisely. You’ve made a great impression. But it is still all to play for. The end of the interview is not only an opportunity to place yourself at the top of the list of candidates to hire. Ask a question about any of the following three topics, and you could jeopardize your position :
1. Salary & Package
Always wait to be asked rather than bring this up. If you ask about this, it makes you look mercenary, and this is not a good look. Also, not all the hiring team may have visibility on what your offer would look like, and this makes it a sensitive issue.
2. Progression into Other Parts of the Business
Of course, you do want to demonstrate that you are ambitious, so ask about progression within the team you are joining. Be careful not to make yourself look like you lack the commitment necessary for the role you’re applying for.
3. Reservations the Interviewer has bout your Application
The end of the interview is the opportunity to leave a positive impression. Even if the interviewer does have reservations about you, don’t let these be the last thing they remember Plus, most interviewers will be running a process with other candidates. They will not want to feel pressured into giving you a decision on the spot – and this is a question that prompts them to.
Exploit the Benefits of Asking Questions at the End of an Interview
Asking questions at the end of an interview shows that you are confident in what you can do and your skillsets. It also gives the interviewer the chance to talk about the organisation and the role in more depth. Those last five minutes are your final opportunity to leave the interviewer with a great impression of you and those last five questions you ask will ensure you do.
If you would like to understand more about what Lime Talent can do for you and your job search, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 020 7042 3800.