Whether you are vying for a government job or one in the private sector in the industry of your choosing – Engineering, Information Technology, Digital Marketing, or even Education & Teaching. The process is the same, the great equalizer (well, in most cases anyway!)– we all have to sit through that interview and ace it!
 
I know we all automatically assume that as long as we answer all their questions thoughtfully and confidently, we would eventually hit the jackpot and land that job. However, have you ever stopped to think that you must also prepare for the inevitable eventuality that has most candidates reeling – the most obvious concluding question that begets more questions – from you! Yes, I mean the "So do you have any questions for us?" query.
Believe it or not, the lack of response to this question is baffling! And this most often because candidates are not sure what questions are the right ones to ask. But the truth is, you are planning to commit to this job position for at least 40 hours a week for the next foreseeable future. Thus, isn't it better to find out what you are getting into before making that commitment? (Yes, just like any relationship).

Thus, to help you stand apart from your competition and put a smile on your interviewer's face, we have put together a list of questions that is sure to impress and get the answers you need.
 

Interview questions about your future boss or colleague:

• What's your favourite part about working here?
• Why did you choose this career and industry?
• What's your leadership style? What's my future manager's leadership style?
• What are some of your biggest worries or challenges these days?
• How did you get your start with your career? How long have you been with the company?
• What has your career path looked like? Is there anything you'd do differently?
• What have been some of your biggest challenges during your career? How did you, or do you, deal with them?
• What do you feel has made you successful working here?
 

Interview questions about the job position:

• How are goals and objectives set for this job role?
• If hired, what would be the top three priorities you'd like me to focus on in the coming year?
• What traits does the perfect candidate for this job position possess?
• What can you tell me about the position that isn't listed in the job post?
• What is the work schedule like? Is it flexible, set-in-stone, or are there options?
• What is a typical day, week, or month like for someone within this position?
• What is the toughest time of the month or year for someone in this position?
• How can I grow in this job role?
• What's the timeline for making a decision on this job position? When would be a good time for me to follow up with you?
 

Interview questions about the team:

• Can you tell me a bit about the team I would be working with?
• What are the key positions and groups that I would be working with? What are the leadership or personality types of those people and groups?
• What are the three biggest challenges your team faces when working with other groups within the organization? What do you do to minimize the challenges?
• What is the single largest problem facing your team today?
• What is the approval process for projects and tasks within the group?
 

Interview questions about the organization:

• What types of individuals are successful here?
• What's your company culture like?
• How and when is feedback provided to employees?
• What is your reward and merit system like? Do you have a reward system based on performance? What types of rewards do you offer employees? What types of achievements or traits are rewarded?
• What types of advancement opportunities are there within the group and company?
• How much exposure do we get to the top executives within the organization? Is there an open-door policy within the organization?
• What type of training or educational advancement does your organization offer or encourage?
• What is the single largest problem facing the organization today?
• What has been the top accomplishments of the organization over the past year?
• What can you tell me about your organization's plans for new services, products, or plans for growth?
• What types of volunteer work and community service does the organization encourage?