As an interviewee, asking the right questions can help you stand out in a sea of applicants. It also shows the hiring manager that you’re fully engaged in the conversation and job opportunity. This extra preparation can ease some nerves since you already know what you’ll say when asked, “Do you have any questions?”
What you ask in an interview can tell an HR manager a lot about your character, so the trick is to not just ask questions for the sake of asking, but to ask the right questions. For example, you don’t want to jump the gun and start asking about salary or employee benefits right off the bat, as this will come later in the process. As a general rule, you want to avoid focusing on yourself and instead show the HR manager you want to know more about them, the company and the role.
If you’re keen to impress an HR manager and are interested in good questions to ask in a job interview, read on and be ready to hear the words ‘Do you have any questions for me?’
Who is a hiring manager?
The hiring manager is the person in charge of the team looking to fill an open role. They often hold a senior, manager, or director title on the team you are interviewing to join and will likely become your direct manager or your boss if you accept this position, other times they are members of a Recruitment firm or an outsourcing company (check out for my post on outsourcing firms)
The hiring manager works directly with the team you are seeking to join, they will be your best resource to learn about the specific responsibilities and expectations of the role, as well as the overall team culture.
Ask Questions about the Company’s culture
Questions about the company allow you to further develop your understanding of their mission and vision, and can help you place this role within the organization’s architecture.
Be careful not to ask questions that you can find on the company’s website, social media profiles, or in the job description. You have a limited amount of time with the hiring manager and should use it to add to the pre-interview research you already did.
Examples include:
How does this team support the company’s mission and vision?
What do you love about working at this company?
Asking questions about the company beyond the available information can show that you are interested in the company’s values and want to support the overarching aims
What do your most successful employees do differently compared to others/ What’s the overall purpose of the position?
Knowing the purpose you serve in the company can help you understand your overall role and how your role fits into the inner workings of the company.
When the interviewer answers this question, they may also reveal a lot of information about the company that may answer or raise further questions. The more knowledgeable you are about the position and the company increases your ability to decide if you would like to work there.
3. What are your expectations for the role over the next six months to a year?
This is an excellent question to ask in an interview because it demonstrates your proactiveness. It also helps you because meeting your manager’s expectations early on in a new job is crucial to your success. Therefore, gaining a clear understanding of what is expected of you before you’ve even started is a sure-fire way to get a head start.
4. How has the company changed and What are the company’s plans for growth and development?
You need to know if you see yourself working on that company in the next few years, you could give instances about other companies that delved into other diversified products and services and see if there are any plans on inculcating Artificial intelligence, digital marketing and even database management in the nearest future.
5. What are the next steps in the hiring process?
Asking about the next steps lets your potential employer know that you’re interested in pursuing this position. You are curious about how the hiring process works and what to expect next. The next steps could include another interview, testing, paperwork or a phone call. It’s also important to know when they’re planning to make a decision.
6. What are you most excited about in this company’s future?
Want to inject a little positivity into your phone call with HR? Ask them what has them pumped up right now.
What motivates them to get up in the morning? Put yourself in HR’s shoes: Wouldn’t you love to answer this question, especially if you love the company you work for?
Asking the HR rep what they’re most excited about shows them that you, too, thrive on enthusiasm. It also brings the best out in your interviewer – a good headspace for HR to be in as they hand you off to the hiring manager.
Ask these questions and see yourself making a nice impression on your hiring manager. Hope you found value.
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