How and Why Should You Ask Questions to Your Recruiter?

If you have been to an interview, you know that an interview requires a two-way communication between the interviewer and interviewee. Your interviewer tries to know about you and questions and answers are expected from both sides. Usually, the interviewer asks more questions to the candidates. Interviewers give chances to candidates to ask questions and we should grab those chances. However, I have observed some interviews where the candidates do not ask any questions to the interviewer. If you do not ask any questions in the interview, then your recruiter may make assumptions. These assumptions may be that you are not interested in the job or have not prepared for the interview. 

Most of the time, candidates get a chance to ask questions at the end of an interview. It is a golden opportunity and we should not miss it. You should prepare at least three questions to ask your interviewer. Although, you do not have to ask all three questions because you may not get a chance to ask more than one question. Your questions should show that you are interested in the position and you have prepared for the interview. 

How Can You Prepare Well for The Interview?

Now you may have doubts regarding the preparation of the interview questions, but you should not be stressed about it. You do not have to confuse yourself with this. Let me help you with some ideas for question preparation. All of us research about the company before we join it, or at least we prepare for the interview by learning about questions that can be asked in the interview. We can plan some questions when we do our research and prepare for the interview questions with their answers. It is really simple; you just need to go through the job description, company profile, amenities, and other details regarding your job profile. If you have any confusion, it can become a question. Write down your doubts/confusions, and make a note of the series of questions that you would like to ask in the interview. If the list is long, you can shorten it down as per your choice.

I will not suggest asking questions that have ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as an answer. Also, do not ask questions that are too broad and difficult to answer for your recruiter. After all, we do not want to annoy the interviewer.

Remember that there are no fixed types of questions to ask in the interview. Questions can be different for every situation as it depends on the job profile and recruiter. Moreover, something which worked for your friend may not work for you.

Questions asked by a candidate in an interview should be put up carefully because even one lame question can turn the tables.

I will share some types of questions to ask in an interview, so that you know how a question can give you a positive outcome. Keep in mind that every interview is as unique as a passcode. To unlock it, you need to have patience and focus. The following questions mentioned below have helped many candidates to get an idea about the types of questions they can ask their interviewer in the interview.

Questions Related to The Job

Can you tell me more about the day-to-day operations regarding this job?

This question can help you understand the job profile and everyday tasks as much as possible. Knowing about the job operations can help you decide whether this is a job that you want or not. 

In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges in this job?

This question is important because it will give you a good insight into the challenging situations you may face in the job. In my opinion, it is better to get to know these things before you are hired, so that you can make an informed decision. 

What are your expectations from your employees?

Every interviewee should ask this question during the interview, so that they can easily learn how their employer wants them to work and what they want from their employees. It will be beneficial for them in the long run. 

Could you tell me something about the team I will be working with?

Most of the roles require working in a team. It is a good idea to know about the team since you will be a member there. Asking this question might not reveal everything about the team, but it will give you a rough idea of how the team functions on its day-to-day operations and what types of personalities you are going to work with. If you can not find which question to ask, you can go ahead with this one.

Questions Related to The Company

How is the work culture at this company?

Different companies have different work cultures. You may or may not like the culture of every company, so it is always better to know about the company’s culture before you start working for it. This information is already available on many online job boards because employees review their companies on the internet. In case you do not find any information on the internet, you can directly ask this question.

Where will the company head in the upcoming years?

You may ask this question because it is important to know about the company’s vision. If you are thinking of continuing this job for some years then you must choose a company that is growing so that you can also grow. This question will show that you are interested in the growth of the company and planning to stay in the company for a longer period of time.

What new projects is the company working on?

This question can help you get an insight into the new projects that the company is working on. They may not give you the entire information but a small hint is enough for you to go ahead and grab your chance to ask the question.

Recruitment Related Questions

What will be the next step in this interview process?

This question will give a sense that you are interested and eager to move forward in the interview. When this question is answered, you will get to know what is required in the process ahead. In the worst cases, this question can give you an answer if you are not going to be part of the next round of interview.

Could you tell me about the joining date?

This question is a way to ask when they expect you to join the company. It will also give you a clear sense of your selection possibilities.

Do you have any other concerns?

This might sound dumb, but this question can help your interviewer to recall anything that he or she might have missed. This will trigger them to talk about any concerns that they may have parked for further review. Usually, interviewers tend to share their doubts or concerns when you ask this question. This is a golden opportunity to clear those doubts and become an even better choice for your potential employer.

Conclusion

Finally, I would say that asking questions to the employer is necessary if they allow it. You need to make sure that you ask the most relevant question(s) and present yourself as you have done enough research on the company. You should try your best not to sow seeds of doubt in the recruiter’s mind. One thing you may have noticed is that there is no direct question about the salary or other monetary benefits. Well, you need to calm your horses down until you move into the final stage of the interview. Once you are in the final stage, the recruiter may start the conversation regarding the salary structure and breakouts. 

I hope you find this blog helpful and have got an idea about the questions you can ask your potential employer in an interview.