Updates

What are the best questions to ask in an interview?

Posted on 10-05-23 by Jack Woolsey

Preparing a set of high-quality questions is an important step in any interview process to maximise the chances of a positive outcome for both sides.

Not only is it essential for the candidate to ensure the opportunity is the right fit for them, but it also demonstrates to the interviewer that the candidate has taken time to prepare properly and is taking the process seriously.

However, many candidates go in under prepared in this regard, and either forget to ask questions all together or are unsure of which questions they should ask.

Remember, interviews are a two-way street, it’s not just about the company choosing the candidate, but also the candidate choosing the company.

So, what are some great questions you can ask in an interview?

Company

• When was the business founded?
• What is the ownership structure of the business?
• What is the size and structure of the business?
• What has your growth looked like since launch?
• Which markets do you currently operate in?
• Who are your key competitors?
• Who are your key customers/partners?
• What are your key product lines?
• What is your USP?
• What does the product roadmap look like in the short, medium and longer term?

Strategy/Future Plans

• What does your projected growth look like over the next 3 years?
• Which markets are you planning to target/open?
• Which customers are you looking to onboard?
• Which new products will you be looking to launch?
• What is the end goal/longer term ambition of the company and how will you achieve this?

Culture and Environment

• How would your current employees describe what it’s like to work for you?
• What would you say defines your company culture?
• What are your core values as a business?
• How do you typically reward strong performance?

Role

• What is the size and structure within the team?
• What would be my key stakeholder relationships?
• What would be expected of me in the role?
• How will I be targeted/my performance be measured?
• What opportunities would I have for career progression if I performed well?
• How might this look?

Finally, it’s good practice to close the interview with questions about the recruitment process:

• What is the next stage?
• How do I compare to other candidates you have met?

For more advice and tips take a look at our Candidate Toolkit