There’s nothing worse than finding out your job is a dud a few months after taking the leap into a new role. Sometimes it’s the work, most of the time it’s the manager, but whatever it is - there’s a distinct feeling that washes over you when you realize that something about this really sucks. It sucks in that “I wish I knew” way that forces you to recollect every minute of the interview process and try to figure out what question you forgot to ask so you never end up in this scenario again.
I know because I’ve been there. Twice. In my case, it was the manager. I don’t have many work dealbreakers but screaming at your employees? That’s on my list. The first time it happened, I put up with it way too long. I tried to tell myself I was sensitive. The second time? I made a plan quickly. In 2 weeks, that plan became Three Ears Media. No lie.
However, starting a company and leaving corporate didn’t cure that little part of me that wanted to figure out what I missed. I talk to people all the time that are doing the same thing. They’ve been in a role for a few months and they find out about a red flag. Something they beat themselves up over thinking they should have known the questions to ask in an interview that would have given them the clarity to know it was a hellscape.
Why Don't People Ask Questions?
Let me start by saying there’s no world in which you can magically lift the curtain by asking some series of questions. People are good liars. It’s also easy to get your hopes up when something sounds better than the situation you’re in now. Plus, there’s a lot of stuff to figure out when you’re in an interview scenario. You’re on the clock to present your skills and experience while simultaneously trying to figure out if the company will be good for you.
Yet, despite all of these need-to-know layers, many job seekers hesitate to ask any questions. Reports on why people don’t ask interview questions mostly attribute it to fear of negative judgement. They worry that asking a certain question might make them appear unprepared or annoying. Some don't know what questions to ask in an interview or where to start.
On the contrary, job seekers have been told not asking questions can work against them, too. So what is it? What are the magical questions you need to ask to make a good impression while not coming across as unprepared or annoying the manager?
22 Questions To Ask In An Interview
I can’t actually answer that. Some people just aren’t for you. If they get annoyed by your questions? Don’t sign up to work with them. Trust me. However, I know some questions are more helpful than others. That’s why I asked my connections on LinkedIn to share their favorites. (Let’s be friends, too!)
As I started selecting my favorites, I realized I'm not the one to pick. Based on who you are, your learning style, and work history - different questions could help different people.So instead of my selections, here are all the recommended questions from my LinkedIn network. If they're asking these, you definitely want to. These people know work!
- "What's the organization's revenue model?"
- "What level of internal support can I expect in this role?"
- "What keeps you up at night about the future of the org? How does this role engage with those issues?"
- "How are mistakes handled? What is the policy around making mistakes?"
- "What sort of training is offered for upskilling your current workforce?"
- "Why is this position open?"
- "What projects are in the works that I would assist with?"
- "Why are you here?" (directed at the interviewer)
- "How do you handle conflict?" followed by "What kind of conflict?"
- "How does the team celebrate successes and handle mistakes (or even failures)?"
- "When was the last time you took a vacation?"
- "What was one thing the last person in this role did really well that you hope I can continue or improve upon?"
- "What does the company/team planning process look like? How do folks decide what to work on? And what happens when plans change?"
- "Even though we can't see the future, try to imagine a world 6-12 months from now. How will you know the team made the right hire for this role?"
- "What do you anticipate to be the biggest challenge for someone in this role?"
- "If I were to join the team, what should I have accomplished in the next year?"
- "If anyone I’m interviewing with has been with the company 10+ years, what has kept them there for so long?"
- "How have you worked with this position in the past? How are you expecting to work with this person once the role is filled?"
- "How is success measured in this role?"
- "What do you enjoy about working here?"
- "What will a typical day look like? What would I really be focused on most of the time?"
- "What problem/challenge/issue are they trying to solve now, and what makes it difficult to do?"
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