Asking questions in an interview and assessing whether the company is the right one for you are as important as preparing for an interview. If you are not sure how to make that assessment, then read our tips below!

Always remember that interviews are a two-way process

YOU are assessing the company, their team and culture as much as the recruiter or future manager is assessing your fit.

Why is this important?

Simply because the last thing you want is an unpleasant working experience.

With an increasing number of companies now hiring remotely, you might not be able to meet your future manager and/or colleagues in person, and you probably won’t get to visit the office to get a feel of the vibe. This can make it difficult to get a genuine idea of the organization’s culture, so getting your questions to the point is more important than ever.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself before your interview.

1. What is important for me?
2. What type of environment (physical or communication style environment) do I best operate in?
3. What are my values?
4. What are my expectations for my next role (What do I want and NOT want)?

Why is it important for you to think about these questions?

Because they will help you decide whether you see yourself fitting in the role, team, company. I’m sure you will agree that there is a difference between the list of questions you can prepare ahead of an interview, such as “what does success look like in this role?”, and these questions that will help you consider what a day in the role looks like and what your experience in the role, team, company is likely to be.

Let’s not forget another very important point: You will increase your chances of impressing and convincing your interviewer because they will see that you have thought about what you want!

So, how do you start?

We’d recommend you spend some time thinking and writing down your answers over the course of a few days. Practice turning them into open-ended questions so that you can get the most out of your interviewer. An open-ended question typically starts with “how”, “when”, “who” or “what” as opposed to a closed-ended question which can be answered by yes/no.

Here are some examples of how to use these questions and how to convert them into effective questions to ask your interviewer:

Question 1: What is important for me?
Answer: I want flexibility so I can balance work and family life.
Question for interviewer: What kind of flexible work arrangements do you have in place at X company?

Question 2: What type of environment (physical or communication style environment) do I best operate in?
Answer: I work best in a supportive and constructive environment where feedback is shared (communication style environment). I want to move to Asia in the medium term (physical environment).
Question for interviewer: When and how do people like to give and receive feedback at X company? I saw you had offices in Asia; do you support internal mobility? How long would I need to be in a role in order to consider opportunities in Asia if I am a good performer?

Question 3: What are my values?
Answer: I value creativity and innovation.
Question for interviewer: In what ways are creativity and innovation encouraged in the team? Do you have recent examples to share when this happened?

Question 4: What are my expectations for my next role (what do I want and NOT want)?
Answer: I want to progress in my career, through promotion and/or learning of new skills. I do not want to move company if the role is identical to my current one.
Question for interviewer: How does the organization support career growth, and what are the tools available? Can you share recent successes of team members? Can you share an example of someone in the team who was able to get promoted?

These examples can be used as a base to build a framework so that you can best assess whether that company is a fit for you. If you are having several interviews with different organizations, then ask the same questions and compare the answers!

If you are thinking of a career change, these questions will also be very relevant to help you pinpoint your preferences in environments and working styles.

If you feel you need personalized help with this, we can help! Whether you are considering one or several job offers, a career change or relocation, we can help you structure and practice your interview questions.

Book a free strategy session with one of our coaches and get started today!