During the interview stage of the hiring process, being prepared to ask the right questions on both sides of the table, meaning both the employer and the applicant will ensure that both parties have the best possible hiring experience. While most employee candidates are screened before the interview process ever happens due to killer questions, the interview process leads to a much more in-depth understanding of how a person acts and reacts to questions and situations not given through the screening process. Unique questions can be used to discover if a candidate is the right fit for the job, or if you’re the one seeking a job, if the workplace is a good fit for you as well.
Often times, the person being interviewed does not take the opportunity to ask critical questions to learn about the organization they are trying to be hired for. Interviews are not just a one-way conversation, questions and answers come from both sides of the table. The list of killer questions within this article will prepare both parties involved to make sure they get the most out of the interview process.
Questions Asked by the Employer during the Interview Process
- While working at your previous place of employment, who gave you the most energy and why?
- If you could solve any problem in the world what would you solve and why?
- What has been your most satisfying job, and why?
- What has been your most least satisfying job, and why?
- Do you have a five-year goal, and if so, what is it?
- What does it mean for you to be successful?
- Do you have any projects in your lifetime that you’re especially proud of?
- What do you do in your spare time?
- Do you have any skills, qualities or learn knowledge that have helped you the most at work?
- What did you do in order to prepare for this interview?
- Describe a typical work week.
- From your current role in your position at your current job, or previous job what, or who have you learned the most from?
- Do you have difficulties working with people, if so why?
- What has made you the most satisfied throughout your working career so far?
- What is the greatest contribution you have made toward your current job or organization to date?
- If your best friends had to describe you, what would they say?
- Do you invest personal time in your own development toward your career?
- What’s the last significant risk you took, and did you gain or lose from it?
- Name a recent problem that you solved using unconventional methods.
Questions Asked by the Applicant during the Interview Process
- What’s the turnover rate per year with employees in this organization?
- Who are your main competitors?
- Does this organization believe and outsourcing any positions or functions?
- Does the job description for this position until all tasks that are required to be performed, or are other tasks involved?
- What is the overall management style in which employees are looked after, disciplined and taught?
- Describe a typical workday and a typical work week for someone applying for my position.
- Is the position I am applying for a new one, if not why is the position open?
- What is the overall core objective of this position in regards to the rest of the organization?
- What skill sets, quality and knowledge base would you say embodies an ideal employee?
- Does this position have any challenging obstacles to get use to or overcome?
- Why did you personally choose to work here?
- What is the company’s approach for working remotely or flexible work hours?
- What will be my first task if I am hired here?
- What are this company’s most important assets?
- Our most employees promoted from within, or do you hire anyone with the best skill set for the position?
- If you had to describe the company’s culture here, would you say it’s more relaxed or more straight to business?
- How would you describe a successful employee taking this role on?
- What competitive edge do you have over this company’s biggest competitors?
Questions Not to Ask an Employer during the Interview Process
- Do you care if I work from home?
- When do I qualify for my first vacation days?
- What’s the minimum hours I can work each week and still maintain employment?
- What exactly is it that you guys do at this place?
- Do you check social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram?
- How long should I work here before I qualify for my first rays, and how often raises given after that?
- Does this company use the three strikes rule?
The list of questions above should be used at your own discretion and at an appropriate time during the interview process. It is best to also use them in your own words and tailor them to the conversation at hand. While these are only a handful of questions, there are many more that can be used to really dig deep into learning who you are hiring or who you’re going to be working for. Remember to dress the part, sit up straight, look him in the eyes and show them you want the job.