The Top 3 Questions to Ask in a Job Interview (Plus 2 Backup Questions)

During a job interview, your potential employer asks you a series of questions. Your answers help them determine whether you’re a good fit for the job. Your focus during the interview is on making a good impression. And if all goes well, you'll hopefully score an offer for the position.

Oftentimes, people forget that job interviews are a two-way street. Not only does the interviewer ask you questions, but they usually want to hear questions from you, too. This allows you to gain insight into the role and the company. That means you should not only prepare to answer questions but to ask them as well.

Here are three questions to ask during your next job interview. We’ll also provide a few backups in case you need them. (If you have the chance, ask all five of these questions!)

3 Questions to Ask Your Interviewer During a Job Interview

Asking the right questions will give you much-needed insight into the position. You can use the interviewer’s answers to determine if the company is a place you’d like to work and if the job is right for you. Here are a few questions you should ask:

What Would My Daily Responsibilities Be?

Use the interview as an opportunity to learn what the job entails. If you were hired, what would your days look like? Ask about the company’s expectations. How much work would they expect you to complete on a daily and weekly basis? They’ll likely be happy to give you a rundown of how a typical day might go.

This question is particularly helpful because it’ll let you know if you need to sharpen any skills. If 50% of your job involves working with Microsoft Excel, for example, you might want to go home and refamiliarize yourself with the program.

What Are the Company’s Values?

By the time you walk into a job interview, you should have already done some pre-interview research. You should look into the company’s services, mission, and reputation. Your research will help you prepare for the interview and figure out if it’s actually a place you’d like to work. But it never hurts to dig a little deeper during the meeting.

Ask specific questions about the company’s mission. What types of things does the company value? Also, find out what the organization is trying to achieve now and in the future. By learning more about the company’s values, you’ll learn more about the work culture. Depending on what you learn, you can figure out whether the dynamic of the company aligns with your goals.

What Are the Next Steps?

After you’ve gone through the effort to interview, don’t you want to know what the next steps are? Asking this question shows them you’re excited to move forward. Plus, it informs you of what happens next and what to expect. They may give you a date of when they plan to get back to you. Based on that date, you’ll know when to follow up or not. If they think you’re a good fit for the job, you may hear back even sooner!

Backup Questions to Ask in an Interview:

In some cases, the interviewer might answer your questions before you have the chance to ask them. If that happens, you'll need some backups to ask them just in case. Don't worry, we have a few recommendations:

What Opportunities Are There for Professional Growth?

Find out how career advancement works within the company. It’s normal to want to know if there are opportunities for you to grow. But, be careful how you word your question. Don’t make it sound like you expect to start climbing the corporate ladder as soon as you walk in the front door. Instead, ask about the average career track of someone in this role. Where have the others who worked in this job ended up? Have they been promoted to higher positions within the organization?

Another thing to ask is whether the company has a career development program. A development program can help you learn new skills, sharpen existing ones, and grow as a professional.

Who Will I Be Working with Every Day?

Knowing who you would work with every day will tell you a lot about the position. Get some names and find out what their job titles are. You may find that you would be working with several departments instead of one. If the company expects you to work by yourself and perform several jobs at once, beware. That’s a major sign of disorganization and unreasonable expectations. So, get as many details as possible to make an informed decision about the job.

Both parties asking questions is a natural part of the interview process. It’s like a game of tennis, or at least it should be that way. Don’t let an interview pass you by without asking questions. In other words, you need to arrive with some questions. As both parties interview one another, it’ll be easier to determine if it’s a good match.

Now, you better get ready for your next tennis match. It’s time to do your research and prepare a series of questions to ask!

Caitlin Sinclair has five years of Property Management experience working primarily in high-end apartment community living. Her ability to consistently deliver white-glove service to her residents and prospects has propelled her into a successful career that now finds her leading the team at GIO Apartments.

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