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60 Smart Questions to Ask in an Interview

Job interview vector illustration.

Have you ever gone to a job interview and failed? If so, then maybe you finally realized that solid preparation for the job interview increases your chances of getting hired.

In this post, we are going to review job interviews and the hiring process from different perspectives and angles to help each candidate who struggles to find a job or might have even lost hope in looking for one.

There are several factors that every candidate should keep in mind when looking for their dream job. Knowing them will help a candidate gain success. Would you like to learn more about these factors?

One of the most essential things during the job interview is your sparkle. In other words, you need to show a portion of enthusiasm concerning the desired job position. What are the other things you need to extrapolate? Let’s review them. 

Ultimate tips for asking an employer during the interview

As the proverb says, success is 1% of talent and 99% of perspiration. CEO of Hiveage, Lankitha Wimalarathna, represents a similar point regarding recruitment and job interviewing: “Indeed, the employment process is not easy for both the candidate and recruiter, but being aware of the main rules of interacting leads to win-win solutions.

Working in a team is not easy, but it is possible if you know how to do it from the very first moment you come to the company. Vising job interviews is also a kind of work – the better you perform, the higher the reward.”

To perform excellently during the job interview, you would better use the following tips:

  • Dress to impress. Some people think that their IQ and EQ are obvious and that there is no need to care about your appearance during the job interview. As a result, the vast majority of them fail. Moreover, most of them fail even before they come to the interview. How? It’s evident that modern HRs screen the CVs and have the right to select a candidate’s resume with the most presentable photo. Undoubtedly, the candidates who do not upload or add any photos, fail 100%. Is it fair? Just have a look at the stats of the way employers expect their candidates to come to the interviews. 

How do employers expect the candidates to dress for job interviews?

  • Interact. By interaction, we mean that when a job interview asks whether you want a cup of coffee or water, you should not say “No” just because you think it is polite. Being an ideal candidate means also being ready to accept help. So, if you are thirsty, do not hesitate to ask for a cup of water, at least. This is a green flag for your potential employer, telling them that you do not idolize them and are not a typical “people pleaser”. It’s a good way of behavior, trust us. 

Ways to collaborate in a team:

  • Ask questions. Asking questions is proof that a person thinks analytically and can critically assess the situation. In other words, when a job candidate asks questions, it means that he or she is sane, adequate, and professional enough. It does not mean that you should bombard the employer with all sorts of questions; no, just ask the most relevant to stand out among other potential candidates.

Because asking questions might be a hurdle for many people, we would like to share the most interesting, worthy, and intelligent questions to ask during the job interviews. Check them out!

However, you are welcome to ask specific questions before the interview, too! It is often much better to figure out the core aspects of your prospective job in advance to avoid wasting your time. 

Smart questions to ask about the prospective job 

  1. Can you please describe a typical week or even day in this job position?
  2. What are the examples of projects that I might be working on?
  3. Can you show me the most immediate types of projects to work on?
  4. What kinds of skills and interests are you searching for?
  5. What attributes make the candidate a perfect fit for a job position?
  6. What skills are needed in a team that you are looking for in a candidacy?
  7. What is the approximate budget?
  8. Am I supposed to work after a person who leaves, or is this a new role?
  9. How does this job position influence the overall success of the company?
  10. What are the core responsibilities?
  11. What are the biggest challenges of the job position?
  12. How long have you been with the company? 
  13. What did you do before it?
  14. Why did you come to this company?
  15. What is your favorite part about the job?

Staying silent is not appreciated at any reputable company. Here is a list of questions to ask the recruiter during your first meeting. 

Questions to ask concerning training and pro-development 

  1. Can you describe the onboarding process details?
  2. Are there any professional and learning opportunities?
  3. Will there be any opportunities to cultivate new skills and utilize new knowledge?
  4. Can I be advanced within the company?
  5. Will it be possible for me to represent the company at industry conferences? 
  6. To which point did the previous employees succeed?
  7. What does your company value the most?
  8. How does your company measure success?
  9. Where do you see your company in the next 5 ears? 
  10. Can you introduce me to the new plans and products of your company? 
  11. How will I be trained?
  12. What are the training programs that you utilize?
  13. What are your performance expectations?
  14. How will you review the performance?
  15. What targets will my performance be evaluated against? 

Top questions about the evaluation of success 

  1. What do you expect me to accomplish in the next 30, 60, or 90 days? 
  2. What are your expectations of this position for one year? 
  3. How often will you review my performance? 
  4. How long is the approximate tenure for the employee? 
  5. Will I be a mentor, or am I going to be mentored? 
  6. How will you judge my success?
  7. Do you have any concerns about me being successful in this position? 
  8. What is the next step in the hiring process? 
  9. When should I expect to hear from you back and get some feedback? 
  10. When are you planning to make someone a job offer? 
  11. When do you anticipate someone to start working? 
  12. Suppose I have any further questions, whom should I reach out to? 
  13. What is the major challenge that every prospective employee faces? 
  14. What part of the job is the most exciting? 
  15. Are there any exciting projects that are expected shortly?  


Check out a list of Python interview questions to sound professional during the interview with IT specialists. 

Common questions to ask about the company 

  1. Can you tell me more about the significance of your company? 
  2. What is the company’s nearest direction in the next few years? 
  3. What are the current goals that the company is heading to these days? 
  4. What do you feel the most excited about the company’s near future? 
  5. What are the company’s most important values? 
  6. What is the way that the company ensures it is uploading its values? 
  7. Can you tell me more about the team that I will be working with? 
  8. Who will I have to report to directly?
  9. What are the biggest challenges and strengths of the team?
  10. Does your company expect to hire more members of the team in the next 1 year?
  11. What are the departments that I will be supposed to work closely with?
  12. Is the team strong-bonded?
  13. Are there any office traditions?
  14. Did the company change after you joined?
  15. Does the company overcome the challenges that might have occurred regarding working remotely? 


Find the most interesting .Net questions for the interview to ask your potential employer!

Conclusion

Summing up, getting prepared for a job interview is indeed a great job. There are hundreds of employees looking for the same job and competing with each other. The ability to ask the right question at the right time will make you look more desirable as a job applicant in the eyes of your potential employer. So do not hesitate to ask questions.

However, before you ask any questions, you would better think twice because some of the questions would be avoided (like the company’s activity, being too curious about the exact date to start, questions about PTO (paid time off), etc.) Plus, do not forget to dress nicely and stay friendly and interactive. A smile must be your first task in your desired dream job.