The 10 Best Interview Questions
The average job opening attracts over 250 applicants.
I don’t know about you, but I was never taught interview skills in school.
I maybe did one mock interview in college, and it felt forced and stupid and I didn’t actually learn anything from it.
Yet, interviews are SO important. Not just to show the company your skills, but to decide if you really want to work for that company in that role.
I’ve tested out tons of interview questions I’ve found on google. Some are great, some are just weird and awkward.
Here’s a list of the 10 best questions to ask during an interview, not only to stand out, but to get more information about the company.
1. “How does your company embrace diversity and inclusion?”
Honestly, you usually you can tell if a company embraces diversity by just looking around and doing your own research.
But if you can’t tell, this is definitely important to ask. You want somewhere that not only meets the bare minimum for diversity, but takes concrete actions to support diversity in their company.
One thing I love about my company is the culture and diversity committee. Especially in my field, I believe that having voices from PoC, women and the LGBTQ+ community is so important.
2. “What sets someone apart who is good in this role from someone who is excellent in this role?”
Honestly, this is one of my favorite questions. I’ve asked it during every interview I’ve had. In my opinion, you learn a lot about the prospective role and the company that you are working for.
Do they value hard work? Or will you be expected to overwork yourself?
Do they want someone who is a team played, or someone who does better solo?
This gives you the opportunity to see if you truly would be a good fit for this position.
It also gives you a look into what qualities they are looking for if you do continue with the company.
I also like this question so that I can see if there are qualities they mention that I have, but haven’t shown examples of in the interview yet.
3. What resources and support did the company give to its employees during COVID-19?”
Let’s be honest, when push comes to shove is when you really find out what a company cares about.
If they can’t give you any concrete steps they took to take care of their employees during this crisis, that is a huge red flag.
It’s important to work for a company that TRULY supports their employees.
If they had to shut down for a period, what did they do to help employees and to communicate with them?
The company I work for now offered 2 extra weeks of pay, and a bonus when they opened up again. I think that this is HUGE. And it’s one of the reasons I chose them when I graduated.
I also think it’s important to ask questions that give you real information about the company. I hate when people list out a bunch of questions designed to just make themselves look better.
An interview is also your chance to interview the company. Remember, they would be lucky to have you.
Make sure that it’s a company you actually want to work for.
Related:How to Break the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle
4. “How will I be evaluated on my performance?”
Take note of the answer, in case you do accept this position and continue forward with the company. This gives you a heads up for what they are looking for.
It’s also important that they know exactly how you will be evaluated. It’s a red flag if they don’t have a concrete and confident answer for this question.
You want a company and supervisor who gives constructive feedback and also is able to recognize your accomplishments and hard work.
5. “What is your favorite part about working for this company?”
Sometimes we forget that the interviewer is human too. They have aspects they love (and hate) about the company and their position. And it’s important to get a feel for how they actually feel about the company.
This not only tends to break down people’s walls a bit, it gives you a lot of important information.
Do they seem passionate in their response? If they can’t tell you genuine things they love about the company, that’s a bug red flag.
Related: 20 Money Mistakes I Made in My 20s
6. “What opportunities for growth are there in this position?”
This one is commonly recommended, and for a good reason.
Let’s be real, it sucks to feel like you are stagnant in your position. You want room to work up and make more money (if you want to in the future). Maybe you will be happy long term in this position, but it is still good to know you have options.
And this questions gives you a look into opportunities to move up in this company and get promotions.
If they can’t give you solid, concrete answers for this, and you are looking for a position you can move up in, that’s a red flag.
Related: Why You Definitely Shouldn’t Join That MLM
7. “Can you tell me more about the team I will be working with?”
You are going to spend 40 hours (or more) a week with these people. Chances are, you want to be around people who don’t drive you absolutely insane.
Now there is always a chance that your coworkers will be awful. But this question gives you some insight into the dynamic BEFORE committing to spending ⅓ of your life to these people.
It’s a good way to assess the dynamic of the team you would be joining. It also says a lot if the interviewer doesn’t really know anything about their coworkers.
I don’t know about you, but it can be hard to make friends outside of college. If you can make friends with your coworkers, that is an easy win.
8. “What are the company’s plans for future growth and development?”
Generally, it’s a really good sign if the company is expanding and has a plan to keep growing.
Even small businesses want to grow and expand in their own way.
If a company is stagnant, it may be a sign that innovation isn’t a priority there.
This could mean that the status quo reigns supreme. I want to know that the company is trying to grow and evolve, and that they prioritize that kind of thinking.
9. “What is the work environment like here? Would I be working more as a team or independently?”
This is a great way to know right off the bat if the position is a good fit for you. If you prefer to work independently, you probably don’t want a position that involves constant, hands on collaboration with a team.
Conversely, if you thrive off of teamwork, you probably don’t want to be stuck alone in a cubicle all day.
There’s not really a right or wrong answer to this question. This is more for YOU to know if this position would be right for how you work before you jump in.
10. “What does work-life balance look like in this role?”
This one is BIG for me. I accepted my current position, despite knowing I could make more at another company, partly due to work-life balance. (There were many other positives about my company, but in my field, this is a big one).
It’s a big red flag if the company is constantly asking their employees to work overtime, stay late, or work extra days during the week.
Obviously, the interviewer probably isn’t going to confess to that, but it’s easy to tell if their answer is genuine for this question.
If the company truly values work-life balance, they will embrace that aspect.
Related: The Toxic Effects of Grind and Hustle Culture
BONUS: “What resources would I be given for training at the onset of this job?”
I think people often forget how important feeling supported throughout your training is.
The company should have a solid plan for training and making sure that you are supported.
It can be really stressful to be thrown into a position. So it’s worth knowing what training will look like ahead of time.
Ultimately
Just remember: you are worth so much!
And interviews shouldn’t just be about trying to impress the company. You want the company to impress you too.
Obviously, there is privilege in being able to pick and choose. And I know that there are times that you just have to take whatever it is that will put food on the table. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But if you are in the position to pick and choose, it’s important to know what questions to ask.
