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22 Unique Interview Questions to Ask Employers

10 Jan 2023

Going to job interviews can be exciting but incredibly stressful - especially when it comes to asking your prospective employer questions at the end of the interview.

However, asking those questions can be the deciding factor between you and other candidates, helping you secure the role. It is also a great way to get a better understanding of the job you’re applying for. 

One way to alleviate pre-interview anxiety is by researching the company you’re talking to, and preparing some questions you can ask during your job search. 

The importance of interview questions 

The saying goes, ‘by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail’, and this couldn’t ring truer when it comes to prepping those all important questions. By arming yourself with just one or two questions beforehand:
 

• It shows you’re interested in the role you’re applying for
• It demonstrates that you’ve done your research 
• You can illustrate how you will fit into the company 
• You can work out if the job is right for you
• The interviewer’s answers will give you an idea of company culture
• You can get to know potential colleagues

Don’t forget, an interview is a two-way conversation that should help you identify whether the role is right for you, as well as you being a good fit for the company. So:
 

• Do as much research as possible
• Make sure your questions aren’t easy to answer with a quick Google search
• Think about how you word your questions 
• Unless asked about salary expectations, don’t ask about pay during the interview

Here at Ingeus, having supported more than 500,000 people to find suitable, lasting work, we understand just how overwhelming your employment journey can feel at times, so to help, we’ve pulled together some constructive questions that you can ask at every interview. 

Questions to ask at your interview 

Finding out more about the company

Digging into the company is a great way to show you’ve done your research, and are interested in the future success of the business. Questions surrounding plans and competitors can put you ahead of the competition, as it gives you the opportunity to talk about your own skillset as well. 
 

• Where do you see the company five years from now? 
• Who would you say your top three competitors are? 
• What sort of competition / challenges does your business face? 
• What excites you about this company? 

Questions about career development, goals and success

When you ask about professional development and career advancement, you’ll get a better understanding about expectations of the role. These questions will also show you how the company views success, how they reward their team and what is important to them.
 

• How often do you undertake performance reviews? 
• What does the performance review process look like?
• What metrics and goals do you evaluate performance against? 
• What would I need to achieve in the first three months of the role?
• What training and development do you offer here? 
• Is there room for progression within the company?

Getting to know the interviewer

Questions about your interviewer’s experience within the company will give them an opportunity to talk about themself, helping you build a rapport with them. This will also give you more insight into the company and what their day to day working life may look like. 

• What do you like most about working at this company? 
• What part of your role are you most excited about in the next year? 
• What’s contributed to the success of your role in the last few months? 

Finding out about workplace culture and teamwork 

A company that encourages and practises teamwork often has increased job satisfaction and promotes personal growth and development. Additionally, asking these questions surrounding company culture and values will help you understand if your values and beliefs align with the organisation you’re interviewing with. 

• How do you promote teamwork in the workplace? 
• What is the culture like here? 
• What are your company’s values? (if this isn’t easy to find online) 
• “I’ve noticed you had [company value] on your website - can you expand on this?”
  • Your website says you’re [insight driven] - what tools and processes do you use to practise this? 

Understanding the role 

Questions about the role will give you more insight into company structure and the bigger picture of team dynamics. It will also help you determine whether the job is right for you.

• Who does the role report to?
• Can you tell me more about the team? 
• What would my day-to-day responsibilities look like? 
• What does the hiring process look like? What are the next steps? 
• Can you show / give me some examples of projects / jobs I would be working on? 

Finding a job with Ingeus

If you have been unemployed for a while and need employment advice, or if you have a health condition or a disability and are looking for work, then Ingeus delivers services including the Work and Health Programme and Restart Scheme which could help you get back into work.

If you’d like some support and guidance in finding a job, speak to Ingeus today.