The best interview questions to ask

You have to ask some questions, that much we know. It shows that you are interested and engaged above all else. But what are the ideal questions to ask? What questions will tell you more about the role or could reveal a detail that will affect your decision to continue or not? We’ve asked this question too and below are the top seven questions that we have come up with that should tell you everything you need to know before making your decision. Let’s begin.

• Why has this position become available?
  This is a great question to help you really understand the role and the company. If it is a new role, then you might have the opportunity to make it your own. If you are replacing someone, there might have been a dispute that could have been as a result of the way that individual worked, or the way the company operates.
• Will there be opportunities to gain further experience or qualifications?
  Some industries and professions will require you to hold specific qualifications if you are to progress, others will give you the opportunity to acquire these new skills through experience. Being able to achieve these whilst you are working can be of great benefit. You can also get some insight into how dedicated the company or department are to the development of their staff.
• How would you describe the team dynamic?
  This is an important question, most would agree that different departments and teams operate in completely different ways, regardless of working for the same company. It is because of this that you can find out much more by diving into the dynamic of the team, then the workings of the company.
• If my application were successful, where would you see me in five years’ time?
  You want to know that if you take on this role, you’re not going to be stagnant in what you do for years to come. For some roles this will be a forgone conclusion but this is not always clear. If you find that you’re quite a driven person this will also not be a great fit for you.
• What do you see the person in this role achieving?
  When coming up with this role your interviewer would have had a specific target or goal in mind. This can be a good question to find out what that might be. You might find that whilst your skills and experience fit what the role requires, what you and the role want to accomplish might be very different.
• What skills do you see as the most important for this role?
  This can be a good question to find out what skills you have that they value the most for the role, and also what skills you don’t have. You might find out that you failed to mention some skills or experiences that they would be interested in hearing about. Or, that the role will require you to develop some of your skills prior to starting.
• When can I expect to hear from you?
  You want to know how long you can expect to wait before they will contact you about your applications progress. Knowing the answer can help you continue with your job search knowing fully well that you might have to dedicate you time back to a single job application.
  
  That is what the basics of the question is asking, but in actual fact, the way they answer can also tell you something more about the relationship that exists between the company and their staff. Is their open communication? or in actual fact, do they only communicate with staff when they have made a decision that impacts them?
  
  It is also still very common for unsuccessful applicants, even those who have had interviews, to not be contacted when their application has been unsuccessful. This is poor practise but unfortunately still occurs.

We wish you the best of luck searching for your latest job. Our blog is updated regularly to provide you with the best and most up-to-date resources, advice and expert knowledge. For more information, please check out our other blogs or sign up for our job email alerts to start receiving job postings specific to you.

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