Bridge Insights

22 Questions to Ask on an Interview to Show You’re Interested

Nov 18, 2019

You just heard back from the dream job you applied to last week and they want to meet!

To prepare for the big day, you’ve memorized the job description and your elevator speech to the point you can recite both in your sleep. You’ve read so many articles and blogs on the questions interviewers ask, you could give a class on the topic. You’ve even printed out multiple copies of your resume, and your copy is marked up with notes about your previous job experiences, your accomplishments, and their relevance to this role.
On interview day, you’re not going to leave anything on the table about what you bring to the table.

You are confident. You are prepared. You are going to crush this! …..Right?

Wrong! Your hard work and research up to this point are definitely valuable, but you’ve overlooked one huge aspect of interviews: They go both ways.

Too often, we’re so anxious to make a good impression with prospective employers, we curb our employment needs for fear of coming across too demanding, stubborn, or unable to adapt to different environments and people. It’s important to keep in mind the goal of all interviews is to determine that both candidate and company are a good fit for each other – culturally, professionally, and personally.

If your interview prep has left gaps in the questions to ask a prospective employer, you’re not alone.

Below are a few of our favorite employer-based interview questions to get you started.

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1. The Basics

Why is this position open? How long has it been open?

What is the target date to have this position filled?

What are some of the challenges you have had finding the right person for this role?

2. The Inside Perspective

How long have you been working for the company?

What roles have you held?

What is it you like best about the company?

3. The Expectations

What is your management style?

What are the expectations of your employees?

4. The Game Plan

What are the goals you have for the person selected for this role within the first 90 days? Quarter? 6 months? Year?

5. The Metrics

How do you measure your employees’ performance?

What are the metrics or KPIs for this role?

[blockquotes]The goal of any interview is to determine that both candidate and company are a good fit for each other – culturally, professionally, and personally[/blockquotes]

6. The Culture

What does the culture look like in your department?

How is the department structured?

What does the team dynamic for the department look like?

The workforce as a whole?

7. The Resources

What will the training and onboarding process look like for this role?

Who are the people/teams this position interacts with the most?

8. The Advancement

What is your vision for the department over the next 5 years?

What are some of the growth opportunities you envision for the individual selected for this position?

9. The Challenges

What do you believe is going to be the most challenging aspect of this role?

What current company weak points will this position contribute to improving most?

10. The Industry Landscape

How would you compare the company to its competitors?

How do you see this company’s industry evolving in the future?

Bridge Tips

Preparing with around 5 position/company related questions should be enough to strike that healthy balance of questions and answers with the hiring manager.

Tweaking the questions above and adding specifics from some of that stellar company research you’ve done previously is a great way to earn additional brownie points; it shows that you’ve put thought and time into preparing for the interview, did your research, and are taking the interview seriously.

If you’re not able to add specifics, that’s okay, too. More often than you think, people arrive at interviews without any questions of their own, which is a huge red flag to hiring managers. Not only does this come off as though you do not care and/or are not taking the interview seriously, it can also show that you may be lacking in preparedness and organizational skills.

Employer-facing questions are a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates, but the most important part of your interview is to be confident about being yourself.

Remember: You’re awesome, and you landed this interview for a reason. Now knock ‘em dead!

[blockquotes color=”highlight” logo=”yes”]Let Us Help You Find Your Dream Job
CONTACT US TODAY[/blockquotes]

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