Oh interviews! Don’t we love them? I feel like interviews are always a double-edged sword. It’s your opportunity to shine and demonstrate your skills but they can also be so unpredictable. Today, I wanted to focus on what my favourite questions to ask in an interview are. It can be hard to think of questions on the spot so I’ve outlined a few for you below.
What does success look like in this role?
I love asking this question because it gives you a good idea of how this role fits within the organization! I’ve always valued understanding how I will be contributing to the company’s success. So, if the interviewer answers this with some key metrics or experiences that tie into the company’s success, it’s a plus. This question also allows you to get a grasp of the most important aspects of the job. Knowing this, you can determine if the role would be a good fit for you based on your own strengths, and weaknesses. Lastly, I think when you ask this question, you signal to the interviewers that you’re actually interested in the role. You demonstrate that you’re thinking long-term about this role. It also puts a good picture in their heads of you performing this role and succeeding!
Where do you see this company in 5 years?
This question is an extension of my first question, but it gives you a good picture of the company overall. When you’re applying for jobs, you’re applying for the role. But you’re also signing up to be part of the company. You want to ensure that the company you choose aligns with your values and is a place where you’ll be comfortable spending a lot of your time. Also, consider if the company is thinking of shifting in the next few years and if you like those changes. You wouldn’t want to join a company and then realize it’s moving towards a completely different direction.
During interviews where I’ve asked questions like this, the answers I got were really interesting. I would recommend asking this more-so in a second interview. Ideally, when there is a VP present, so they could speak more about the future of the company. Overall, this question gave me a sense of how confident the interviewers are about the success of the company and what direction it wants to move toward.
What is an project that was the most interesting or that you were most proud of?
This one is my personal favourite because it allows your interviewers to share a bit of their personality! You get to learn more about the cool projects that you might have the opportunity to take part in. As well, you get a sense of what the employees pride themselves in. Whatever it is, it goes to show what kind of person your potential hiring manager is and what opportunities are available at the company.
Some of the most interesting responses I’ve gotten from this question involved creative storytelling, last minute teamwork and very cool interactions! I think this also appeals to the interviewers since it gives them a moment to express themselves and talk about their experience.
Why have you stayed at this company throughout the years?
This might not work with every interviewer, but I’d recommend you go through their LinkedIn if you know beforehand who is interviewing you and see how long they’ve been at the company. If it’s been more than 3 years, I’d say this is a safe question to ask. This is another question that will really give you a sense of what the company culture is like. You can also tell if their answer is an honest one or just one that the interviewer is giving you to make the company more appealing. If they struggle to come up with an answer, I’d say it’s a tell tale sign that they are not enjoying their experience at the company and it could be a red flag.
Most of the time when I ask this question, the answer I get is “the people.” This is not surprising to me because I’ve learned that your coworkers can really make or break a job experience! I would say it’s a red flag if the people are not one of the answers that the interviewers give you.
Could you describe the company culture and how it is implemented?
This one is more of a blanket question that could cover what a lot of the above questions answer. I’d say it’s a good one to start if you want to be a bit more general. The interviewers probably can expect this type of question, but keep an eye out for how they answer the “how it’s implemented” part. Let’s say they answer that they are very friendly and like a family, and they implement this culture through lots of work events and socials. This may be a red flag depending on what kind of environment you’re looking for. On the other hand, they could say they implement the same culture by saying everyone is approachable, and willing to chat about anything with you. This response would be more appealing to me and it would be a good sign of how friendly the company really is.
How much freedom is there in this role?
This question will depend on what type of role you’re applying for, but I think in general, questions about how much flexibility you have in your role and the opportunity you have to bring new ideas is important to ask. This will give you a sense of whether you will be conforming to work processes and responsibilities that were done by the person in the role previously. Or, if you will be able to expand and really embrace the role and make it your own. With more flexibility, you have the ability to show your initiative and try new things which could expand your career experience. With less flexibility, you will have more guidance about how to perform the role. The answer that satisfies you will depend on what you’re looking for in a role, but overall an important one to ask!
Conclusion
Those were some of my favourite questions to ask in an interview! I hope they were helpful and that you can take some away to use in your next interview. Let me know what some of your favourites are in the comments below, through email or in my Instagram DMs.
