March 16, 2023 | 5 min read
7 Important Job Interview Questions To Ask During Your Job Search

Catherine

Ready to say, “I quit” to your employer? If you are at the beginning of your job search, there are plenty of things you should be doing to prepare. Part of this involves knowing what interview questions are most important to ask potential employers.

Since the professional landscape is continuously evolving, your expectations of employers may be changing as well. Whether you’re looking for more flexibility or an exceptional company culture, there might be new information you want to uncover during the hiring process. Here are seven important job interview questions to ask:

What do you expect to see me accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days in this role?

One of the most important things to know before accepting a position is what expectations your employer will have of you. By asking this question, you can start to strategize how you can meet these expectations if you’re presented with a job offer. Additionally, the hiring manager’s answer can help you determine if you will enjoy the work you would be doing in this role, as well as if the expected workload is reasonable for you to accomplish within three months.

What made you decide to work for the company and why do you like working here?

Asking questions about the interviewer and what they like about working at the company can give you additional insight into the company’s values, mission, and culture. Additionally, asking this question shows them that you’re interested in them as a person, which can be a great way to start a relationship with a potential future colleague! When the interviewer answers this question, pay close attention to whether or not their response aligns with what you’re looking for in your next job opportunity.

Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?

We spend a lot of time with our coworkers, which is why it’s important to get an idea of what the team’s dynamics are. The answer to this question should give you a holistic understanding of the team, including key roles, priorities, and how these functions come together in order to help the company achieve its mission and goals. From there, you can ask some follow-up questions that can tell you more about the team. This can include:

  • Who will I work most closely with?
  • Will I have direct reports? If so, can you tell me some more about them?
  • Are you planning to make additional hires for the team?

What learning + professional development opportunities do you offer?

Professional development is key to maintaining a competitive advantage, both in the job market and within your company. Not only that, but a desire for these types of opportunities shows an employer that you’re motivated and want to make an impact as well. Additionally, consider asking if the company has a mentorship program or opportunities to shadow higher-level employees. This can help you determine if this role can put you on track to reach your career goals. Read also: How Professionals Can Drive Their Own Career Goals.

How would you describe the company culture?

Even if the role you land is your dream job, a company’s culture can make or break your experience. If a company’s culture isn’t the right fit for you, you’re more likely to burn out and dread signing on to work each day. When you ask about the company culture, the most important thing to find out is if the culture will energize, motivate, and push you to be your best and most productive self. Some follow-up questions you can ask are:

  • How would you describe the office environment?
  • If the team is mainly remote, what do you do to foster collaboration and strong work relationships?
  • Do you have a favorite company event you participate in each year? If so, what is it and why?

Read also: The Complete Guide To Company Research.

What is your hybrid and/or remote work policy?

COVID-19 forever changed the professional landscape, most noticeably in how and where we do our work. If the pandemic forced you to work from home for the first time, you may have discovered that working remotely made you more productive than you were in an office. Or, you may have enjoyed having more flexibility over your schedule. If flexible work is important to you, you’ll want to screen for this during the hiring process. While the company may have listed their policy in the job description, since different teams can have their own culture, it’s always good to ask about expectations during an interview.

What do next steps look like?

When you get to the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask the hiring manager about the next steps in the hiring process! As you go through your job search, you’ll want to have a clear idea of when you can expect to hear back, who you’ll be interviewing with next, and how to prepare for future rounds of the process. Plus, asking about next steps helps demonstrate your interest in the opportunity, which can help set you apart from other candidates.

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