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For the Job Seeker, what are Good Interview Questions to Ask?
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
There are many good interview questions to ask during a job interview. Some of the best questions are those that involve a company’s history and goals for the future. A job seeker may also do well to ask specific questions about the job for which he is applying. Additionally, a job seeker may do well to ask an interviewer whether or not he would like a list of references and when he would want the job seeker to start if he is offered the job.
A job seeker may have a better chance of success in a job interview if he appears to be genuinely interested in the company that is hiring. To this end, a job seeker may do well to research the history of the company prior to the job interview and then ask questions related to what he learned from his research efforts. A job seeker may also ask questions about the company's current goals and its employment philosophies. Additionally, a job seeker may ask an interviewer to share his opinions of the company’s strengths and weaknesses.
Some other good interview questions to ask include those concerning the expected growth of the company and the potential for staying with the company for many years. A job seeker may also ask questions about the company's turnover rate as well as the opportunity he will have for advancement in the company. He may also ask the interviewer what he likes about working for the company and whether or not there is anything he would change about it.
When a job seeker is trying think of good interview questions to ask, he may also make a list of questions to ask about the position itself. For example, he may ask how long the position has been available and how many people have held the position in the past. He may also ask the interviewer which qualities he feels are most important for the person who will fill the job vacancy. Additionally, a job seeker may ask an interviewer to describe the work environment and to fill him in on whether he will work as part of a team or be responsible for independent tasks if he lands the job. Asking the interviewer to describe a typical work week may prove beneficial as well.
Many good interview questions to ask during a job interview may concern the job seeker himself. For example, a job seeker may ask the interviewer whether he would like a list of references. He may also ask the interviewer how soon he would be expected to start in the event that he is offered the job.
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
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![It's good for candidates to have appropriate questions ready before an interview.]()
By: Adam GregorIt's good for candidates to have appropriate questions ready before an interview. -
![It's helpful for job seekers to fully understand the position's requirements before concluding the interview.]()
By: vgstudioIt's helpful for job seekers to fully understand the position's requirements before concluding the interview.
Discussion Comments
@browncoat - The annoying thing is that you are at the whim of the interviewer, particularly if there is only one of them, and asking the wrong question can quickly backfire, but it's impossible to know beforehand what the wrong question might be.
If you ask questions that are too basic, they might wonder if you did any research before coming to the interview. If you ask questions that are too complicated, they might get frazzled and annoyed with you for wasting their time.
I would take my cue from the interviewer as much as possible. If they touch on a subject, ask for clarification if you need to. And if there are any deal breakers, then ask about them as well.
@pleonasm - I generally try to build up enough rapport with the interviewer that I naturally ask them questions during the course of the interview. And then you can just say, when they ask if you've got any questions, that they've answered everything you had to ask (as long as they have).
It can be a fine line to tread though. You have to be very careful to remember that they are interviewing you for a job and they aren't a co-worker yet. So, for example, asking how they enjoy working for the company might not be appropriate.
Make sure you prepare some of these beforehand so that you are ready to talk about them when they ask you for questions. I have even gone so far as to write them down in a professional looking notebook that I can bring out during the interview.
The advantage of that is that if they have already answered every possible question you could think of, you can still demonstrate that you were prepared.
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