You’ve landed the interview and have practiced your answers to some common and expected questions. You’ve researched the company and have tried on your interview outfit to make sure everything looks great.
Have you prepared your questions for the interviewer?
Having a few questions ready for the end of the interview, when the person you’ve been speaking with asks if you have any, shows that you’re taking this seriously and want to really get to know the company better. It might just set you apart from other candidates!
Not sure what to ask? Here are a few suggestions to keep in your pocket.
Concluding Interview Questions to Stand Out to Employers
How would you describe the company’s culture?
You want to know how this company treats its employees. You also want to know whether this is a place that’s all business, all the time, or if socializing and some levity is part of the routine. Company culture might sound like a buzzword, and it kind of is, but it’s also an increasingly important part of what candidates are looking for in a job opportunity. By asking this question, you’re looking for whether the person knows how to respond to it, which will tell you a lot about whether it’s a concept that’s been discussed internally. It also shows that you’re looking for a job that fits into the way you want to live your life and what matters to you.
What makes an employee successful in the company’s eyes, and what is considered successful in this position?
You have your own definition of success. But what does the company deem successful? How is it measured? What factors determine a successful person from one that is struggling, less successful or in need of remediation? This will help you understand how employees are viewed at this company and how it approaches people who might not be fitting in exactly as the company wants. Corporations have certain expectations of how their employees will act, the hours they’ll keep, even how much people will participate in events, but will deviation from that be a mark against an employee? This is a good way of knowing whether the expectations are reasonable while showing that you want to join a company in which you’ll be able to do your job well.
What are the biggest challenges the company is facing right now?
This is a bold question but the answer will speak to the company’s longer vision and strategy for staying ahead of the competition. It might also give an indication about the company’s financial future and whether it’s steady or if they’re coming out of a challenging time. It’s also an opportunity for the interviewer to tell you more about the company’s future, what it’s working toward and how it intends to continue to grow and evolve. If the interviewer says there are no big challenges, that might be a red flag.
What is the most challenging aspect of this position?
You want to get a sense of how hectic or demanding the job might be. This gives the interviewer an opportunity to tell you a little more about the position, how it fits within the company, whether there are predictable stress points and how they’ve been handled previously. It also helps you understand whether you’re comfortable with the challenges and whether your skills and abilities match up with the complications you might face.
Remember that interviews are as much for you to determine if the company is right for you as it is for the company to learn more about you. Asking questions is a good way to learn more about the company, why people stay, what people like about their jobs, and what it’s like to work there. Feel free to add more!
Call on ABLE to Help Ahead of Your Next Interview!
If you’d like to keep your options open, or maybe this company didn’t feel like a good fit, ABLE Associates can help! We’re always looking to help talented job seekers find a company that will value them and appreciate their hard work; take a look at the positions we’re working to fill right now and see if something sounds interesting to you, then give us a call. We can even help update your resume to make you stand out!