The following lists summarize “Your top winning questions for an interview”. I recommend to select one or two questions from each category.
1. The interviewer
You can start the interview with an ice breaker and ask: how is your week have been?
- What do you do at your company?
- What do you love about working here?
- Can you tell me a little about your own experience with the company?
- How long have you worked there?
- What does a typical day look like for your team?
2. Company goal
- What are your company’s major goals in the next few years?
- What do you see ahead for your company in the next five years?
- What is the most significant challenge facing your staff now?
- Where does this role fit in the growth strategy of the company?
- Is the company planning any new market lines?
- What are your plans for expanding the department/company?
- What are your projections in term of production for this department/position for the next year?
- I read that the organization is changing its strategic direction. How will that affect this business unit?
3. Company values
- What kind of personal attributes and qualifications does your company value?
- How does the company measure success?
- How do you rate your competition?
- Tell me about the culture?
4. The position
- What Role Will I Fill?
- Would you describe the duties of the position for me, please?
- Are there any other assignments not specifically mentioned in the position description?
- What characteristics/additional important skills are important for this position?
- Why Does This Role Matter to the Growth of the Company?
- What’s a Challenge You Think I’ll Face in This Role?
- What would you expect from me this month, in three Months, and in a year?
5. Past people in the position
- Is this a newly created position? If not, how long did the previous person hold it?
- Was the previous person promoted?
- Can you tell me about the career path this position offers? What is the growth potential in this position?
- About the people who have preceded me in this position and in the department, where are they now, and what are they doing?
- What have been some of the best results produced by people in this position?
6. Performance
- How and when would my performance be evaluated?
7. Skills
- Are there particular personality traits you look for?
- What are the backgrounds of the leading individuals in my area of interest?
- Are there any questions about my qualifications/resume I can answer?
- What are the most important skills to be successful?
- What skills do you see as most important in order to be successful in this position?
8. Promotions
- How are promotions or transfers determined within the company?
- Is it your usual policy to promote from within?
- Are There Professional Development Opportunities?What do you do at your company?
9. Colleagues
- Can you tell me about the primary people with whom I would be dealing?
- Can you tell me about the people who would be reporting to me and to whom I would be reporting?
- Who Would My Colleagues Be?
10. Hiring process
- How long does your hiring process take?
- Could you describe the hiring process?
- Does your company hire on continual basis or only at certain times of year?
11. Training
- Are there training programs available to me so that I can learn and grow professionally?
- What type of on-the-job training programs do you offer?
- What additional training might be necessary for this position?
12. Travel
- Do you expect employees to relocate?
- How do you organise the trips between the office and site?
- Is regular travel a part of this position?
13. Conclusion
- When do you expect to make a hiring decision for this position?
- Is there anything I can do between now and when you make your decision to improve my chances of getting the job?
14. Entry level
- What are the most important qualifications your company looks for in an employee?
- Are graduate degrees important? In what areas within your company?
- What kinds of courses do you suggest in order to be a successful candidate?
- How many years do entry-level employees typically work for your company?
- What is your retention rate?
- What kinds of entry-level positions exist within your organization that would be open to someone with my background?
- What is the training process like at your company?
- As an entry-level employee, what kind of career advancement opportunities would be open to me in two, or five years from now?
- Are there any mentoring opportunities for new professionals?
- Does the firm support further college education for its employees?
- Does advancement to upper management usually require an advanced degree?
15. Graduate connection
- Where do ISEN graduates typically work in your company?
- Did you go to ISEN, Where, What did you major in?
Don't forget to ask these questions as well... and use the right way to ask questions!