Tips for Interviewing Your Potential Employer

03 Mar Tips for Interviewing Your Potential Employer

By Alyssa Ranson, Strategic Capture Manager

From time to time we feature tips and commentary on recruitment in the Criterion@Work column. Today we would like to offer some advice on interviewing your potential employer. Remember, an interview is designed as a conversation that goes both ways. The most common answer to the interview question, “Do you have any questions?” is no. This is a missed opportunity to learn more about the position and the role.

Ten questions that should always be asked in an interview are:

1. What are the company’s values and culture?
2. What does success look like in this position and how is it measured?
3. Why is this position open? New need? Backfill?
4. What do you like most about working for this company?
5. What are the goals of this position – 1 year, 5 years, 10 years?
6. Is there an opportunity for upward mobility?
7. What are the challenges of this position?
8. What have past employees done to be successful in this position?
9. If hired, what are the three most important things you’d like me to accomplish in the next 12 months at the company?
10. Is there anything that we haven’t discussed that would be important for me to know about the company or this role?

You can never ask too many questions in an interview. However, make sure that the questions you came prepared with were not already answered by the interviewer. It’s also appropriate to ask questions during the interview instead of holding them all for the end. In fact, that makes for a more even flow of discussion. Furthermore, if you have the opportunity, ask different people the same question. It is a great way to gain perspective into the organization from different viewpoints.

Consider ending your interview by asking, “Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications for this position?” It’s a great way to leave the interview with everything on the table and answer any concerns that the interviewer may have regarding your candidacy for the position.

Here are some more articles about careers at Criterion.