Most times when we think of a job interview, we think of all the potential questions the hiring manager will ask us. The general questions, the personality-telling questions, and how to show our strengths during the interview process. But a lot of times business professionals forget to prepare questions to ask the hiring manager. Remember, the hiring process is a two-way street. You will want to make sure that the job will be a good fit for you. Having some telling questions of your own will help you to make the right decision and make sure that the job will be everything you think it will be. Here are important questions to ask before accepting a job offer:
Question 1: What type of person best succeeds in this role?
The answer to this question will tell you a lot if you listen carefully. The hiring manager will have the opportunity to describe their ideal employee for this position. Although they may not exactly describe you, ask yourself questions such as: What percentage of their description sounds like you? Do your strengths and work habits match up to what the company is looking for? Would you be willing to make a few adjustments or compromises for this position?
Question 2: What kinds of responsibilities does the person in this role have?
This question will allow you to find out more about the job position, especially if the job title sounds open-ended or vague. You may think that a media coordinator involves a certain skill set that you have, but the company may have something else in mind. Getting as much information about the responsibilities involved will help you determine if you would really thrive and excel in this role.
Question 3: Are there opportunities for growth?
This question is especially important if you are making a career transition or a company switch to reach your career goals. Make sure that this job change will allow you to continue to grow. Find out if there are mentoring or training programs for leadership positions. If you get the feeling that there wouldn’t be much opportunity to advance, you may want to re-think the job position.
Question 4: Could you introduce me to the person I would report to?
If you haven’t met your potential new boss already, this is a good way to see what kind of person you would be working under. Ask your new boss what he expects in regards to communication and your workload. Also ask him what he liked most about the last person who had this job position. These kinds of questions will help you determine his personality and how much interaction you would have.
