Questions you should ask in your interview
Once you've passed through the interview process relatively unscathed, answered all of the interviewer's questions to the best of your ability, it's not time to relax — it's time to ask some of your own questions.
The interviewer will usually offer the chance to ask questions after the formal interview is over. This is an important part of the interview process as it allows you to demonstrate your interest by making intelligent conversation around the role and the organisation.
You can also use this time to bring up aspects of your experience and qualifications that you didn't mention earlier in the interview as well as to show that you've done your research on the organisation.
Before you go to the interview think about what questions you'd like to ask. Even asking one question will give the interviewer a better impression than if you say nothing.
Interviews are as much about finding out if the role and the organisation is the right fit for you as it is about actually getting the job. For example, if you're applying for a contract position you can ask if there may be the opportunity to go become permanent.
Questions that you may like to ask in an interview include:
- What is the structure of the team I would be working with?
- How many people would I be working with?
- Who would I be reporting to?
- What is the organisation's management style?
- Is this a new position or would I be replacing someone?
- Could you provide an example of the day-to-day tasks I'd be expected to do?
- What are the opportunities for growth and advancement in this role?
- What do you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
- If I'm offered the job, when would I be expected to start?
- What is the next step in the selection process and when should I expect to hear from you?
You may also like to ask some questions about the interviewer's experience with the organisation and whether you'd be working with them.
Remember you should have already done some research into the organisation and what they do, so question time shouldn't be used for this purpose.
Further information
- read Questioning the interviewer on the CareerOne website
- read Get what you want at an interview on the MyCareer website
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