Interviews are\u00a0nerve-racking, but they don\u2019t always have to be.<\/p>\n
As much as an interview is time for the\u00a0employer to see\u00a0whether or not you’re a worthy candidate for the job, it’s also a chance for you to see if the company is a fit\u00a0for you.<\/p>\n
Below are 10 questions you should ask your potential employer going into any job interview. It’ll help you to\u00a0further understand a company’s goals,\u00a0work culture, and most importantly, if\u00a0you can see yourself at this job.<\/p>\n
What are the characteristics of the ideal candidate for this position?<\/strong> What can I expect in terms of progression and advancement in the company?<\/strong> How much freedom is there to participate in other aspects of the company?<\/strong> Why is this position open?<\/strong> Where do you see this industry headed?<\/strong> Could you give me a rundown of what my day-to-day would look like?<\/strong> Who will I be interacting most with?<\/strong> Why did you choose to do what you do?<\/strong> What steps did you take to get to where you are today?<\/strong> Can you tell me a little bit about the office atmosphere and work-life balance?<\/strong> xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"Interviews are\u00a0nerve-racking, but they don\u2019t always have to be. As much as an interview is ...","author":575967,"featured_media":83902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[260],"tags":[],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/08141553\/shutterstock_132759020-660x400.gif","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/08141553\/shutterstock_132759020.gif","formated_date":"July 11, 2016","category_name":"Life","category_icon":"https:\/\/d3vodd1ws13xud.cloudfront.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/10113832\/entertainment.svg","author_name":"","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#dbb26b","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83898"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/575967"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83898"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83898\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThis question will help\u00a0flesh out the position even more (beyond the job description) so you can understand what the company’s needs are. You can also figure out\u00a0what types of personalities and office environment the interviewer values.\u00a0For example a more traditional, conservative employer might want a candidate that will follow structured guidelines, while a more avant-garde company will encourage creativity.<\/p>\n
\nNobody wants to be stuck in an\u00a0entry level position for more than a few years. By asking about advancement\u00a0opportunities in the future, you can get a better sense\u00a0if the\u00a0company will encourage your professional growth. Also, this question will show the interviewer\u00a0you’re thinking about a future with the company — and not just trying to make some cash.<\/p>\n
\nYou can find out if you’ll be pigeon-holed in the\u00a0specific role, or if you’ll have the opportunity to explore other sectors of the company. For those who don’t land their\u00a0dream job right off the bat, getting your foot in the door is a good\u00a0starting point. \u00a0The interviewer will also see that you have a desire to work for the company, and that you are a multidimensional employee who\u00a0is willing\u00a0to take\u00a0on other roles.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s awesome\u00a0that there’s a position open at your prospective company, but be sure to learn\u00a0why<\/em> this position is open. If it’s a new position, that\u2019s a good sign — it means that the company is growing and expanding to accommodate its\u00a0higher demand. But\u00a0if the turnover rate is high, that’s definitely a red flag. If you feel confident, ask a follow up question in regards to\u00a0where previous employees in this position are now, or how long they expect candidates to fill the specific\u00a0role.<\/p>\n
\nGet a better picture of what to expect in\u00a0the industry– not just in the near future, but also further down the road. An insider\u2019s forecast can help determine whether or not there is potential for your growth in the company and industry. It doesn\u2019t bode well for the company if the viewer isn\u2019t optimistic — why would anyone want to jump aboard a sinking ship?<\/p>\n
\nJob descriptions can be deceiving but\u00a0ask about your daily activities because you\u2019ll get a better perspective\u00a0of what responsibilities you’ll have and if it’s of interest to you. The position title and description may give you an idealistic picture, but hearing from the interviewer will give you a better understanding of what’s expected\u00a0.<\/p>\n
\nA positive office environment\u00a0is crucial\u00a0and your co-workers make up the majority of that, too. It\u2019s good to know who you\u2019ll be spending most of your time\u00a0with — after the interview, see if you can get a tour and meet some employees. Interviewers also try to implement the \u201clayover test\u201d which, in a nutshell, shows how well you get along with the team.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s safe to assume that the interviewer (if they’re not HR) has quite a bit of experience at the company or in the industry. They know what the position entails and the responsibilities that come with it — and hearing what they enjoy at\u00a0the company and why they chose that career path will further clarify if the job is a right fit for you.<\/p>\n
\nWorst case scenario: you love the company, still want the position, but didn’t\u00a0get the offer. At least you can\u00a0take away\u00a0the interview as a solid learning experience. You\u2019ll not only get practice for future interviews, but this question also serves as a roadmap. Many professionals will tell you that there is more than one way to reach the top, and it\u2019s a great idea to explore different options and routes.<\/p>\n
\nIf you\u2019ve had a high-stress job or nightmare boss before, you know how important it is to have a positive workplace environment. With the recent rise of \u201cstartup culture,\u201d employers have been increasing perks and benefits, but there are still a lot of companies that employ harsher conditions, especially in more conservative industries. It will save you a lot of time and sorrow if you can successfully weed out offices that don\u2019t cater to at least most of what’s important to you.<\/p>\n