When you’re looking for a new job, it’s normal to expect a lot of questions during your interviews. You’ll be asked about your job history. You’ll be asked how you’d proceed in a hypothetical situation. You’ll be asked about specific skills and your five-year plan.
It can feel like all you’re doing is answering questions. And really, that’s OK. Your prospective new boss deserves to know as much as he or she can about you before making a final employee selection.
But there are questions you should be asking, too.
An interview shouldn’t be a one-way street. The company, of course, wants to make a wise decision when it hires you—but you want to make a decision that’s great for you, too. One of the biggest mistakes you can make during an interview is to be so focused on ‘selling’ yourself that you don’t stop to figure out if you even want the job.
Ask these two questions to see if the job is a good fit for you.
- What would a normal week look like in this position?
This is a great question for your recruiter. It will help you get a better understanding of the job prior to the hiring manager interview. The question will ensure you have an idea of what the day-in, day-out work will be like, so find out if there are any interesting or unusual expectations attached to the role—things like daily 8:00 a.m. team meetings, deadline expectations or working nights. If anything stands out, ask more questions about it.
- If you could see one result or change in the role, what would it be?
This question can help you understand what this role should ultimately deliver. If your interviewer responds that they’d like to see a more positive attitude among the team, you might sense that the current team has low morale. Or, if the interviewer says they’re looking for a complete change, you can highlight your innovative and fresh ideas.
You can add a few more questions of your own, too. Ask about industry-related software or tools, ask about the team’s goals, ask about expectations. When you value yourself enough to ask insightful questions, your interviewer will see you’re someone who also will serve as a strong ambassador once you come on board.
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