5 Questions You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Ask in a Job Interview

Whether you’re applying for your first job position or you are a experienced employee, you can expect to come across different types of interviews and employers. Most job seekers nowadays have a lot of questions concerning their future company job roles. It’s quite normal; such an important decision cannot be neglected.

Even so, there’s a common mistake that most employees do when they find themselves in front of the interviewer. Many individuals start off an interview with a disempowering mindset which makes them feel like they are inferior to the interviewer. Therefore, they adopt a position in which they’re afraid to ask important questions.

However, asking certain questions is essential when interviewing for a job, as they clarify important aspects of the possible collaboration between you and the company you’re applying to work for.

So if you believe that you’re that type of employee, this article should help you gain confidence and do what’s right for you.

Your long-term professional career must never be faced with fear. You have the same rights to ask questions as your employers do. Here are few of the questions you shouldn’t be afraid to ask when you come across a job interview:

What is my role and purpose at your company?

The first and most important aspect you must clarify before you even consider joining a company is figuring out whether you’re backfilling a spot or you’re occupying a new position.

In case your job position is brand new, it’s a good sign that the company is growing. If it’s a backfilling position, firstly ask the interviewer why the previous employee left. If you’re not convinced, you may decide to go straight to the source. Most of the times, you will receive more honest answers from the person who quit or got fired.

If your professional standards are high, you should never settle for a company that doesn’t offer a growth environment.

Ask your interviewer about your specific purpose in their company. Ask about their expectations and then tell them yours. This is transparency and it’s always good when it’s present in a job interview.

What professional growth opportunities will your organization provide?

Ask your interviewer about the growth opportunities that are available to their employees. Is the environment suited for your developing needs? How exactly will the company be beneficial to your personal development? These are questions that you must first address to yourself and only then to your interviewer.

Also, ask about the promotion opportunities. When you do this, make sure that you’re asking it in a non-intrusive way. In fact, your employers should notice your interest for long-term collaboration; otherwise, you wouldn’t ask about promotion.

How do you reward successful accomplishments?

Each and every company has different workplace cultures. Some workplace environments may be stricter than others. Some company cultures may focus on teamwork, while some may focus on rewarding their employees.

When you find yourself sitting in front of the interviewer, make sure that you ask about the company’s culture. In addition, you should show interest in their ways of rewarding successful accomplishments. Find out whether the company is used to rewarding employees with different things; it could be promotions, a raise in salary or cash bonuses.

Figuring these things out should allow you to prepare yourself mentally for your journey within that company. You will understand what’s praised, what’s criticized and you’ll be able to fit better.

How will my work performance be evaluated?

As mentioned earlier, every company is different. Another important question you must ask before accepting a job: “How do you evaluate performance?” While some companies are using key performance indicators, others may be goal-oriented or even time-oriented. Understanding how you will be evaluated and how you can excel in the role is a great way to show your interest in the role and your dedication as an employee.

Firstly, figure out how your work performance will be recognized. Clarifying whether employees are evaluated by the goals that they reach, the time that they spend in the office and so on. This shouldn’t be hard, as most companies already have a unique work culture.

How will you deal with X specific situation(s)?

As most interviews will often have unpredictable twists, you must remain flexible and maintain your focus. That is why it is important to do your homework and make note of any important information about the company.

Before showing up at the interview, prepare one or two questions concerning a few specific aspects that you’re interested in. More than often, it’s good to ask about how the company will deal with X situation(s)—‘X’ being a major challenge or potential upheaval. For example, is the competitor about to launch a new product or service that will redefine the industry? By asking this, the interviewer will instantly realize that you’re prepared for the meeting.

Their answers should clarify some things. You can find out whether the company standards and principles are suited for you or not. You can also understand whether they’re professional or they’re just pretending to be.

Conclusion

Job interviews represent an important aspect of our professional life. They’re just like a negotiation between two parties that share common interests. Your interview is that negotiation. If you’re afraid to be decisive and ask whatever you need to know before making your decision, you’re probably going to end up disadvantaged in the longer term.

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