4 great questions to ask an interviewer

Getting a job interview is an exciting feeling. It’s one of nervousness and anticipation and something that you should prepare for. Not only is it important to know how to answer questions but it’s good to know how to ask questions as well.

Being prepared to ask questions in an interview can go a long way in letting a potential employer know that you’re considerate and invested in the opportunity. Whether it’s questions about salary, benefits, or company culture, knowing what to ask an interviewer is an essential part of preparing for a job interview and ultimately having the best chance for success.

Here are four questions that you should consider asking in your next interview.

“What is the day-to-day structure of the company, and how does my role fit into that?”

In today’s work landscape, post-pandemic, people’s mindsets have changed dramatically regarding how they work and when. Flexibility is an essential part of a job structure in today’s world, whether it’s an in office job or remote. As a potential employee, it’s important to know what level of flexibility you’d have in your new job; whether it’s fully in-office, hybrid, or totally remote.

Understanding the structure at a company can inform your expectations about the job and let a potential employee know what’s important to you in your day-to-day life.

“What is the company’s perspective on work-life balance?”

Along the same lines as getting a sense of the amount of flexibility in a job, asking about the company’s views on work-life balance emphasizes that you care about how a job will potentially impact your everyday life. Work-life balance has never been more important, and many companies have started making it a priority in how they delegate and create workloads for employees.

If a company has a healthy perspective on it, you’ll know that the time you’ve spent in an interview is as valuable to them as it is to you, and vice versa.

“What does growth, both financially and in my role, look like at your organization?”

Growth is just as significant as anything else in a career, especially when you’re trying to find a new job. Asking about the growth potential, how they view that as part of the progression of the position they’re recruiting, and what timeline they see as a possibility for growth in that specific role will really give you a sense of whether the company prioritizes its employees enough to see a long term investment, and also shows the company that you’re interested in sticking around if the job is a good fit.

Growth is also significant on a financial level, as studies have shown that making ends meet in today’s world, especially with inflation, is more complicated than ever. Gaining an understanding of your financial growth, or at least whether that’s a possibility down the line, will inform the decisions you make regarding a possible job.

“What can I do in my role to be of service to my colleagues and vice versa?”

Something that isn’t discussed enough as it relates to company structure and specific jobs is collaboration and team effort. In reality, there’s almost nothing that can be done entirely alone. At the very least, you’ll want to reach out to someone about some small aspect of a project or task, even if it’s just asking a question or having them approve language on some copy.

Asking a potential employer about how your role fits into a collaborative culture in the workplace will go a long way, as will getting a feel for how willing other employees are to offer help, listen to feedback, and work closely with someone else.

— Article by Sean Kelly. In addition to being an analyst researching the latest industry trends for College Recruiter, Sean Kelly also co-founded a nonprofit local news publication in Savannah, GA called The Savannahian.