What questions should I ask in an interview?

Chuzzle

Whenever i go to an interview and have answered all the interviewers questions they then ask me if I have any questions. I can never think of any so what should I be asking. Is it a negative thing that I don't ask any questions??

Vader123

Its not negative. But considering (if its FT) you are going to spend a lot of time there, its natural to ask.

Things like :

1) When will you make a decision.
2) What support/training will I have in the first x months?
3) What will happen on my first day?
4) Is this a new vacancy or has someone vacated it?
5) Is there a formal induction programme?
6) How big is my team?
7) What are the teams current targets and how would I fit into this?
8) What is the companies strategy for x,y and z?

Thats just top of my head not knowing what your interview is about/for!

Vader

vixarooni

i always think of a question before hand, i always think if i dont that it comes across as a negative and a bit of a cant be arsed attitude mixed with "this girl is obviously going to loads of interviews to see who will bite"

piglet74

if i really cant think of anything at all, i just say most of my questions have been covered during the interview, but if sucessful when would i expect to hear and when would i be expected to start the job

Simon11

My top tip is to use this as an opportunity to demostrate that you have researched the company and your interest/passion for the industry! ie

I was looking at the financial reports for the company and I didn't understand what this meant. Could you explain it.

Your rival X is opening a new product line, how is your company hoping to combat the rival?


Along these sort of lines.

Chuzzle

I'm applying for admin positions. Yesterdays interview was sales admin support for a glazing company.

It has to be said everything I had thought to question was covered in the interview.

shikoku

At my last interview they answered all my questions in a well written intro speech; when asked if I had any questions I said I had had but they had already been covered in the very informative intro which seemed to please them. I then picked out one thing I had particularly wanted more information about but confirmed they had already answered my question.

BTW the feedback I had on this interview was that I had put myself over very well and gave a really good interview - however they had given the job to someone with more relevant experience... which is the stumbling block we all have at the moment, when an exact match applies, those who could do it with minimal training lose out.

Don't take it personally.

bendix

Ask them if, after meeting you and seeing your qualifications, they have any concerns that you could do a very good job for them.

Always works.

LondonDiva

Ask what in six months time you could use as a benchmark to know if you were on the right track.

Edinburgh65

Hello.

I think that interviewers usually prefer you to have something extra to ask them, although as you say, they do sometimes cover absolutely everything when they are telling you about the role. I always ask if there is a high turnover of staff, or if people are generally quite happy and settled there. I use Excel, so I usually ask what level of Excel knowledge would be required, and I sometimes ask about the dress code if it isn't obvious. I actually take a small list of questions with me to interviews, but I only look at it if my mind has gone blank. Employers won't mind at all, if you ask if you can look over a list of potential questions, so that you can make sure that everything has been covered. It will make you look organised.

Good luck!

Chuzzle

I emailed them this morning to say that they had covered all the questions i could think of except what the working hours would be. I also explained that although I had mentioned i didn't have a car I would be using the train to commute as I had already looked into that.

Bendix - I shall remember your question for future interviews...although I hope there won't be any as I'd like this job!