Question #1:
How have you seen your team improve this last year?

This is a great question to ask if you’re interviewing with your direct supervisor or the person that you’ll be working directly under. It will help reveal whether the team’s performance and their ability to learn, grow and improve is a priority to the manager. If they have a hard time answering this one, it may mean that they’re unappreciative of the team or removed from the day to day workings of their employees. If the manager doesn’t recognise your progress, then how will you grow at that company?

This question will tell you…
• If they are aware of or interested in the progress of their team (not just the results)
• Their main focus and the type of skills that stick out to them
• How likely they will be to recognise your growth as an employee

It will show them…
• Your interest in the team
• Your desire to improve as a professional
• A growth mindset
• Your focus on being a part of a successful team

Question #2:
If something happens that needs your attention—good or bad—and you’re out of the office how would you want to be contacted about it?

Keep a keen ear to how the manager reacts to this one. It can be very telling. Their reaction can show you how they prioritize team communication, their protocols, how organized of a thinker they are, and many other insights depending on their response. You may see them smile and say that their phone is always on for good news, but bad news can wait until morning if it happens after 5pm.

This question will tell you…
• Their communication style
• Their level of ‘workaholism’
• The things they prioritise, and perhaps some things that they don’t
• Internal communications and protocol

It will show them…
• You’re considerate of their time and preferences
• You’re a conscientious communicator

Question #3:
In your experience working for Company A, how long have you seen it take for new hires to hit their stride here?

This question opens the opportunity to discuss training programs and procedures in a way that will help you better understand their expectations and the level of support that the organisation is planning to give at the outset. This will show employers that you don’t just want the job, you want to be successful at it and build a clear plan that will help get you there.

This question will tell you…
• More about the organisation’s training and onboarding processes
• The employer’s expectations that will likely be a factor in decisions about promotions or bonuses
• How realistic they are. If they expect that you’ll be all trained up and ready to hit your peak performance after one week, then they may be unrealistic about other aspects of the role or are unwilling to provide additional support as needed

It will show them…
• That you’re keen on reaching your top performance
• That you’re a conscientious planner which is a good sign for project management and coordinator type of roles
• Your desire to learn and be successful in the role rather than just focusing on landing the job and financial matters

For more information and ideas for good questions to ask in the interview (and why they work), take a look at last month’s post here.

Questions to avoid
Now that we’ve covered some good questions to ask, let’s go over a few to avoid in the interview.

Questions about benefits
Wait until an offer is extended for this one. You will have a chance to discuss compensation such as benefits and your final salary, if you would like to negotiate.

Time off and holiday pay
To the interviewer this sounds like you’re more interested in the time you’ll be away from work rather than what you’ll be doing while you’re there.

Questions about the company’s history or what they do that can be found on their corporate website
Asking a follow-up question about something you saw on their website is terrific, but asking what the organisation does leaves a different impression. To an employer this shows that you didn’t research beforehand or that you’re looking for just any job and may be quick to leave.

Search for your next opportunity or register your details at: http://www.halesgroup.co.uk/