Do's and Don't's: What to Ask During an Interview

We get it - interviews can be nerve-racking. What's our best advice for turning the dreaded interview into a conversation you can be proud of? First and foremost, be yourself! In hundreds of interviews we’ve seen seen the gamut: candidates who are too humble and afraid to talk about themselves, candidates who are overzealous and maybe share a little too much, and candidates who don’t say anything at all. Don't forget that now’s the time to brag a little about all your accomplishment. Be honest and share your experiences with sufficient examples. And don’t forget to (or be afraid to) ASK QUESTIONS!

As an interviewer, we love when you ask questions. It shows you’re enthusiastic about the opportunity and interested in the job and company. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite interview questions to help you get started. Check them out below:

The Job: Is this what you signed up for?

It’s important you understand the ins and outs of daily responsibilities in the role you’re applying for. There’s nothing worse than realizing on your first day that this is not what you signed up for. Try these questions to gain information about the role itself.

1. What does a typical day look like in this role?

2. What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?

3. How long did the previous person in the role hold the position? What has turnover in the role generally been like?

Success: Will this job motivate you?

Have you thought about what motivates you at work? Are you driven to succeed? If so, you’ll want to gain insight into how the company recognizes their employees and awards results.

4. What attributes does someone need to have to be successful in this position?

5. How will you measure the success of the person in this position?

6. What are the most important things you’d like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days? What expectations will be required after one year in the role?

Training and Development: How will you be trained and grow?

Everyone has different styles of learning. Some prefer to observe, some like videos and manuals, others want to be hands-on and dive right in. Understanding the company’s training approach in advance will ensure you’re prepared to be efficient as soon as possible. If career growth is important to you, you’ll also want to ask questions about training opportunities for the future.

7. How will I be trained?

8. Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?

Management and Structure: How's the aspect of teamwork?

Getting to know your future boss is equally as important as learning about the job itself. If you’re preferred way to be supervised does not align with the company’s management style, you might want to continue your job search.

9. How would you describe the overall style of management at the company?

10. Which other departments work most closely with this one? How do they work together?

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

Culture: Why do employees like working at the company?

Yes, you’re there for the company to interview you but don’t forget, you should be interviewing the company as well. It should be a great match for both parties. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the work environment and values the company prioritizes.

12. What is the company and team culture like? How does the company exemplify their core values?

13. What’s your favorite part about working here?

Growth and Next Steps: Where do we go from here?

Be sure the company’s vision for the future aligns with your own. And last but certainly not least, create action. Make sure you leave the interview knowing when you’ll expect to hear back from the company.

14. Where do you see this company in the next few years?

15. What are the next steps in the interview process?

All in all, you should ask questions during an interview that are most important to you. Quite simply, what are your goals and what do you want to get out of the job? Do you value flexibility over career progression? Are you searching for a job with ample opportunities to climb the ladder? Do you simply want to ensure the environment is friendly and well managed? Whatever your motivation, don’t be afraid to ask the questions and ace your interview!