Four Curious Questions You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Ask in a Job Interview
If you’re preparing for your interview as thoroughly as I think you probably have a (long) list of questions to ask . But you’re probably also worried about which ones to talk about and which ones might cost you your job.
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
Yes, when I was a recruiter, people probably turned to unpleasant topics, but I also found that some people avoid completely ordinary requests for fear of being rude .
So, to give you the opportunity to get the answers you want, here are some questions to ask out loud.
1. Is this a new position or would you like to replace it?
The point is, not only is it perfectly okay to ask, most hiring managers will be willing to share details even if they feel uncomfortable with it. Why would you bring it up? If this is a new role, it is a good sign that the company is in a period of growth (which is great). If a talk is made available because someone has left, you can also ask additional questions about why that person is no longer in that position. And if you are not satisfied with the answers (or you find out that the last five people quit smoking within one year), you can also refuse the offer if an offer comes in.
2. What are the expectations of the position and how are employees regularly assessed?
You are probably already asking the first half about this, which is great. However, you are probably hesitant to ask the other half because you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. However, you must do this because one of the worst feelings is not knowing if your manager is happy with your job (which is unfortunately still quite common in the workplace).
So, in addition to getting an inside scoop on expectations for the role, take the opportunity to find out if the company has regular review periods to discuss work and compensation. Some companies formalize the process, while others prefer regular feedback throughout the year. Be that as it may, feel free to bring this up.
3. What opportunities for professional growth do employees have?
It can seem scary to ask about professional growth when you don’t even have a job yet. And, of course, it’s important to keep a close eye on how far you look ahead. However, most people will not be offended if you ask how other people in the company have improved their skills and even moved to other positions in the organization.
In fact, this question shows them that you are interested in staying there for a long time, which is always a plus in the eyes of anyone looking to make a serious hiring decision. While you shouldn’t go into the details of what you would like to do in the future (you don’t need to discuss your possible plans for running your own company), don’t be afraid to ask about career opportunities.
4. What excited you about joining the company?
When a company gets to the point where it wants to hire you, hiring managers will try to sell the job. It’s hard . However, if you want a little more information on what makes an organization a great place to work, feel free to ask your interviewer about what made him jump from his previous job to this one.
Sure, this answer might be a little well-groomed, but it will provide you with more information on what he thinks about the company. Knowing someone’s thought process when changing jobs will not only help you make a decision (“Oh, I want to be on the same path as him!”), But also see if he is happy to work there. If his answer seems too far-fetched, this is valuable information for you.
It is a complex process and can be understood if you feel that any mistake could cost you your dream job. However, it is also logical for you to ask such questions. While you certainly shouldn’t be throwing money for compensation or vacation days early in the process, you should feel fine with the examples above.
4 Curious Interview Questions You Can Ask (Because the Answers Matter) | Muse