Admit it. At some point during one of your job interviews, the employer likely caught you off guard when they asked if you had any questions after the interview. You probably began scrambling to come up with a good response, or simply shrugged it off with a “No, I do not.”
Either way, many job seekers don’t take advantage of this opportunity to really market themselves and learn a little more about the position and the company. Here are 7 questions that you should ask after the interview.
1. “Do you need me to clarify any of my previous answers to your questions?”
This question presents you the opportunity to see how well you did at providing the employer the answers they need to make a decision. If they ask you to elaborate on a given answer, then think of it as your second chance to market yourself and leave a lasting impression. If they reply with a “No. Your answers were fine,” then you’ll know that you were at least clear and concise in your answers to the interviewer’s questions.
2. “What is the typical atmosphere of the office / Would you mind showing me around the office?”
Understanding what the dynamics of the office you’ll potentially work at is a great way to figure out if the company is the right fit for you. The office culture will be a huge factor in determining whether you’ll flourish in your potential new job.
It’ll also give you some insight into how employees act with each other and really the environment you’ll work in. You can gain a lot of knowledge on how a normal day in the office looks and sounds like.
3. “What are the responsibilities associated with this position?”
Though it may seem like a basic question, inquiring more specifically about the responsibilities can easily set you up for success if hired. By nailing down what the responsibilities are for the position you’re interviewing for, you can fully understand what the employer’s expectations are of you. This can help give you an idea of what skills and the kind of mentality you truly need when walking into the job on day one.
4. “What are some of the challenges people in this position have faced in the past and how did they overcome them?”
Expressing your interest in how former employees handled problems that occurred in the position shows the employer your readiness to better the position if given the opportunity.
Letting the employer know you’re always looking to improve is a sought-out quality in employees and this is a great way to convey it. Not to mention that it illustrates your ability to solve problems and find better solutions.
5. “Where do you see the company in the next 4 years?”
This question allows you as a job seeker to gain some insight on whether their potential job is secure, but also lets them start planning for long-term goals. If it seems that the company has been stagnant, then what does the growth forecast look like in the upcoming years?
You should always be looking to move forward in your career path and working at a company that isn’t growing is something you should always avoid.
6. “How does your company define success?”
Figuring out how the employer determines success in the workplace allows you the chance to find out if your potential employer has feasible demands you can accomplish. This allows you to gauge what the company looks for in its employees from a wider angle.
By understanding the foundation for what they see as success, you’ll more easily be able to align yourself with it (and ultimately achieve it).
7. “If any, what are the next steps in this interview process?”
Learning about what to expect next in the interview process can not only show your eagerness for the position, but it can also help you get a time frame of when you’ll know whether you got the job or not. Having a basic comprehension of how the rest of the interview process will go can help you plan what to do next. You’ll surely have different plans if there’s 4 more interviews to go versus this being your last one.
As your job interview comes to an end and you leave the employer’s office, make sure to feel proud of yourself. Job searching and interviewing is difficult. But if you put in the preparation beforehand and use some of this advice, you might be getting that job offer soon than you think.