3 Must-Ask Interview Questions

An obvious reason for asking questions of your potential boss during an interview is to show preparedness and enthusiasm  for the position. Another, often forgotten, purpose of asking questions is to decide if the position is a good fit for you. Interviewing is a two way street and you must ask questions that can help you decide if you are compatible with the company and the people you could be working with if hired.

Here are 3 great questions to explore compatibility:

How would you inform me if you had a problem with something I did?

An encouraging answer may be that they would speak with you privately about the issue and how to fix the problem or improve for next time. It may be a red flag if they say that they will discuss it during a staff meeting or let you keep making the same mistake until you figured it out on your own.

What words would you use to describe the employers who you supervise?

What you want to hear as answer to this question may vary greatly but it is safe to say many would like to hear words like hardworking, talented, or essential. A red flag answer to this question may be descriptors that indicate they have a low opinion of their staff or value characteristics that differ greatly from your own.

If hired, what are some things you are expecting to see from me in the first few months?

Ideally their answer will match your objectives for the positions and the type of working environment you would like to be employed. A potential red flag here is if their expectation far exceeded an acceptable amount of work and or if they cannot give you an idea of the expectations. This question lets you get a better understanding of the company’s work mentality and work pace.