It’s an all too common mistake: you’re blitzing a job interview, but then when they ask if you have any questions for them, you blank completely. You forgot about this part.
But how exactly are you supposed to prepare? It’s easy to gloss over the final part of an interview, but trust us, those questions are still part of the test.
Here are a few things to ask next time, because nothing’s worse than fumbling your last chance to impress. Obviously these won’t all be relevant to your job, so pick and choose a couple you’d feel comfortable chucking up your sleeve.
What not to ask
With the tables turned, your questions are an opportunity to show off some must-have qualities: namely, attention to detail and a sense of genuine care and interest.
That means you can really sour your chances by focusing on what the job can do for you. It’s cliché, but it hints that you might not be a team player. Apologies for typing the words ‘team player’.
That means questions about benefits, pay, leave, and flexible hours aren’t appropriate in the first round of interviews. Yeah, it’s a little ridiculous, because ideally we should have a right to know these things, but generally it’s a little too forward-thinking and leaves a bad taste in their mouth.
If you are concerned about pay, you can mention your current salary in your CV and state that you wouldn’t go below it. It’s pretty direct, but it’s a sign from the outset that allows interviewers to weed out people who wouldn’t be a good financial fit for the company.
Otherwise, one way to get around this is to reframe your questions. Rather than ask what hours you’re expected to work, ask what the typical workday would look like. Nobody’s time is wasted.
Similarly, rather than ask if there’s promotions on the horizon, ask what opportunities the company offers for growth. It implies you’re keen to grow and up-skill yourself within the company, rather than just get a higher up job.
Also, don’t ask basic questions, such as “what does the company do?” or “how old is the company?”. Show you’ve done your research – and if you haven’t, then try and cover your tracks as much as possible.
Finally, don’t spend too much time talking about the company culture in terms of post-work activities. It’s nice to know they do a tri-weekly table tennis tournament, but focusing on it too much might send off the wrong vibe.
Question time
First up: we’re going to give you a heap of potential questions here, but it’s worth saying you shouldn’t rattle all these off. It’s best to only ask 3 or so, depending on how long the answers are etc. You can work that one out yourselves.
Here’s some q’s.
What are the company’s plans for growth/products in the future?
This one offers you a couple things – you get to know what’s planned in the future and demonstrate you’re interested. It’s best if you can ask this question in a way that shows you’ve done your homework: something like, ‘I noticed you’ve announced/recently launched/have been doing more x, is that something you’re focusing on?’ is perfect-o.
What have you most enjoyed about working here?
This one’s great if you’re a little hesitant or the interview’s a little stiff. It seems pretty innocuous, but creates a bit more of a conversation between you and the interviewer. Plus, if they’re talking in generics or struggling to say something, that’s a red flag.
What would you say is the biggest challenge the company has, and how would my role help overcome it?
Again, this can be pretty revealing. It’s a little bold – and not always appropriate – but if you’re feeling confident, it can show that you’re keen to push them to the next step, especially if it’s a start-up.
What’s the next step in the hiring process?
Puts you out of your misery + lets you know when you can expect to hear back.
Was there anything my answers didn’t address or needed elaborating on?
This lets everybody back up for a second and show that you’re confident enough to back up some fluff you might have accidentally sprouted off.
Did you have any hesitations about my abilities?
Bold move, but phwoar, it can go far if you’re confident. Again, it gives you a chance to double-up on anything you mightn’t have covered.
May the odds be ever in your favour – hopefully this helps stack ’em. You can do it!
We’re all about bettering ourselves and moving forward in our careers and lives in 2K18. Feeling the momentum? With more than 1,200 TAFE NSW courses on offer – from degrees to certificates, from short-term to online courses – it’s never too late to switch things up. Go for it!
Image credit: Trainspotting
