Five great questions that will really impress an interviewer

If you want to be a truly memorable candidate when interviewing for a job, you need to ask some great questions during your interview. Remember, most of the candidates will be asking questions about the role, KPIs etc. and so you want yours to really stand out.

Interview questions that are well-researched, detailed and unique, demonstrating your enthusiasm and work ethic, do not need to be complex. They simply need to lead to discussions that can help you gauge whether the business is right for you and allow you to further demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Here are five great, simple questions to consider asking in your next interview.  

1. What are the deliverables for the first 3, 6, and 12 months?

This shows that you are a forward thinker and will ensure you can fully prepare to hit the ground running in the new role. Not only will this question help you to identify what will need to be done and highlight any potential challenges, but it will also allow to demonstrate how you would overcome such challenges. 

In doing this, you are showcasing enthusiasm, positivity, and an understanding of the role. It also shows that you have prepared for the interview.

2. What is the induction process like for new starters? 

An answer to this question should give you an insight into the support offered to employees in the business. It will also ensure you know what to expect when you first join the company. 

Following on from this question, you can ask more about the current team to gain a sense of the workplace culture. You can use this insight to further explore how well you will fit into the team. 

Asking about the team shows that you understand the importance of settling well into the team you will be working with. It also shows that you are aware of the importance of teamwork and office culture. 

If you are confident, you can also follow up with a more direct question about whether you would be a good fit, such as: “From what you know about me so far, how well do you think I will fit into the team here?”

Hopefully, the answer will be positive and if the interviewer is not sure, it will give you the chance to show them that you do possess the right qualities. This is a good opportunity to assess how the interview is going and put your interviewers at ease if they have any doubts.

3. Are there opportunities for personal development and upskilling in the department? 

This question shows that you recognise the importance of upskilling to drive performance within the business. Whether you are looking to gain a professional qualification or refine your transferable skills by getting involved with team building, this conversation allows you to discuss the current skills that you possess and areas you would like to build on throughout your career. 

In doing this, it is key to ensure you are aligning the skills you have with the needs of the role and are identifying areas you would like to develop that would help evolve the role and your capabilities in the team. Be careful that you are not flagging that you are missing key skill sets and knowledge required to do the role.    

4. Ask a question that shows you have researched the company. 

Look at the company website, news, events, and social media pages to explore what they have been doing. You might see something that you would be interested in getting involved with if you joined the company. For example, you might say: ‘I am aware that employees have recently presented at the XYZ conference. Is that a typical opportunity in the job for which I am interviewing?’

Or, you might mention that you have previously been involved with conferences and ask about how you could get involved with these opportunities in the role. 

This shows eagerness and that you have done research on the company and that you are up-to-date with industry news.

5. What kind of support networks and processes are in place to support your business culture? 

Does the business have a strong diversity and inclusion policy? Do they support a charity and get involved with fundraising? Or perhaps you are interested in becoming or working with a mentor. If there are such programmes in place and you are eager to get involved, let them know. You might already have experience in building these programmes and could provide support to help them achieve their goals. 

This will help you gain further insight into whether you are a good fit for the company. It also shows that you are eager to get involved with the wider business objectives.  

Make sure you only ask a question if you are truly interested in the answer. Use your question time as an opportunity to work out if this is a company you want to work for.

Get the ball rolling and into your next interviews as soon as possible. Search Michael Page jobs and apply for positions today.