Questions You Should Ask at a Job Interview

Before we get stuck in, here is one thing you have to remember during a job interview, and I mean one thing. You are also interviewing them.

With that in mind, why wouldn't you ask questions at the end of a Job Interview? Most times however, I do find that by the end of the interview, a good interviewer will have covered most things. However an even better candidate will always have more questions at the ready.

Consider that you are the hot property here. They want you. They also dangling a little carrot on a stick called a pay-cheque to tempt you. In the current economic climate, no one is employing someone when they don't have to. But at the same time, we all just need a job sometimes, so what should you actually be asking when all you really care about is the wage and the staff discount?

Are there training opportunities? / What am I going to learn?

This is a sign of whether the company looks after their staff. If they aren't helping them progress, they don't understand people. No one wants to work in a stagnant job. It also make you seem like an enthusiastic person that actually likes learning new things on the job, rather than considering it too much effort.

Where can this job take me? Are the opportunities for progression and promotion?

No one wants to hire someone that's probably going to leave in the future. Hiring new staff is time consuming and usually a pain in the arse for employers. If you're interested in getting promoted, you're clearly a hard worker, ambitious and looking at making your job with their company a career. Win win win.

Is this a new position, if not - what did my predecessor go on to do?

I actually couldn't care less if this was a new position or not, but this sneakily gives your (hopefully) new boss an opportunity to either let slip why they left, or why they were sacked. Companies that can't keep hold of their staff are bad news.

What is your goal for the business/store/department?

I love asking this question in interviews. It not only shows that you have a real interest in their company, which is great news for you, but it says alot about your potential new workplace. Pay attention to not only what they are saying, but to how they say it. Are they excited about their job? Because if they aren't... you sure as hell wont be.

Considering all of this, do you still want to work there? I once turned down a job because they said I was the fifth employee they'd had to recruit that year already, and it was June. I'm glad I did mind you, because a friend of mine was offered the job instead and I heard all the horror stories about that place. *shudder*

What not to ask...

Can I wear my own clothes/keep my piercings in/wear high heels everyday/get a face tattoo? I'm a smoker, can I take cigarette breaks? How much holiday do I get? Do I have to work overtime? How much am I going to get paid?

All of the above are no-brainers apart from the last one. This is a bit awkward because I think it really does depend upon the job you're going for. If it's clearly going to be minimum wage or just above and non-negotiable, then I wouldn't even ask about it.

If however it's a job you're qualified for, and you feel you have more than enough experience for it and that the job interview has gone amazingly well, and IF the salary/wage wasn't cited in the job description - then you can ask.

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