Employers ask the majority of the questions during an interview; although you should always ask questions at the end of an interview even if you asked questions throughout. Everyone is different and will have some questions that are specific to their situation, such as vacation time and daycare.
However, there are some very important questions you should ask a potential employer before accepting a job. Check out the following list of questions and ask them if you want to be fully informed before making your decision to work for a new employer.
1. Why did the previous employee leave this position?
They may give you a short answer, but it can be revealing on what kind of situation you may be getting yourself into. If a person was promoted or left for a better position, then it might be a great learning environment and way to further your career. If the response seems a bit odd or cold, then the last candidate probably left on bad terms.
2. What are your short and long term goals for this position?
The answer will show you what they expect from the person in this position and their main goals for hiring someone. Also, it will reveal if the job is temporary or if the successful candidate will become part of a long term organizational strategy.
3. Which people and departments does the person in this role work with on a regular basis?
You will find out if the person in this position will work in a team or mainly independently. Also, you will discover if you could potentially be meeting people who can be prospective mentors or good references for the future.
4. What challenges will the successful candidate face within this role?
There will be struggles within all positions, so it is better for you to know ahead of time. Their answer will allow you to share potential solutions or ideas on what you would do for their organization and reiterate that you are up to the challenge.
5. Is there anything that you would like me to clarify about my past positions or experience?
This will allow the interviewer to ask something that they felt they didn’t get enough information about or forgot to ask. You probably won’t get another chance to clarify before they make their decision, so view this as an opportunity for both of you to clear up any misunderstandings.
6. When do you expect to fill the position?
They may not have an exact date, but they do have a timeline of when they would hope to fill the position. This way you will know if you got the job or not if you don’t receive a phone call around the hiring deadline.
You are the one making the final decision on if you would like to accept a job or not. If you are not satisfied with what they are offering or you don’t feel like you have received enough information about the job, then ask more questions or negotiate the terms of employment. Employers want their employees to be happy and motivated, so make sure that you are fully informed and you want to work for them. At the end of the hiring process, you still reserve the right to decline the job offer. The most important thing is to find a job that is the right fit for you.
