"Do you have any questions for us?"
That question used to send me straight into a spiral when I was first beginning my job search. Why would I have questions for the company? is the thought that ran through my head every single time. Followed immediately by I mean, I guess I can ask them about benefits and vacation time.
What I, and a lot of young people or people first entering the job market didn't learn from google searches and advice columns is the interview is also a time to interview your potential employer. Now that I've been through a good number of job interviews I've changed my perspective on interviews. Now, I look at them as a matchmaking process. The hiring managers are trying to find the best match for the position, while you are trying to find the best match for yourself. But, like every type of relationship on earth, the only way this works is if both parties communicate. This means you should have some questions for your potential employer. Sure, you may not have a ton, and you may have spent weeks googling every aspect of the company and its staff before the interview, but that doesn't mean you can't ask great questions.
Not sure what to ask? Here are some of my favorite interview questions for potential employers.
🔹 How do you measure success in this role?
🔹 How do you envision someone growing in this role, this department, and this company?
🔹 What is your favorite part about working for this company?
🔹 What does the onboarding process look like for this role?
🔹 How would you describe the culture of the company and of the department?
🔹 What is the best part about working with the members of this department (or team)?
🔹 What is the rate of employee turnover at this company and in this department specifically?
🔹 What is the company's commitment to continuing education and are there opportunities for advancement and career development?
🔹 How soon are you looking to fill this role?
You certainly don't need to ask a potential employer all of these questions, but I've found that these are the questions that have helped me feel confident in my career choices. By asking all (or at least 3) of these questions at each interview, I find that I leave feeling more confident about the interview itself, and I always feel like I have enough information to make a well-thought-out decision.
If you have an interview coming up, try some of these questions and let me know how it goes! Are there any questions you think are particularly important? Share them with everyone in the comments below or on my latest Instagram post!
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