What to ask a candidate during a job interview?

As the saying goes – he who asks, does not err. What to ask during an interview? Today we come with advice for both future employees and employers. A job interview is not an interrogation where the candidate obediently answers a series of questions. As the name suggests – a job interview – it is a dialogue, which is supposed to bring mutual benefit. Asking questions by the candidate is not so much their right as a unique opportunity to create very good working conditions and present themselves in the best possible light. For the employer – it’s a way to identify the sought-after employee and get to know them. We will suggest what questions are worth asking during a job interview.

From this article, you will learn:

• What to ask during a job interview?
• What questions to ask a candidate during a job interview?
• What are some sample questions for a job interview?
• What questions to ask the recruiter?
• What questions to ask the employer?
• What advice do we have for employers and candidates?

A job interview is certainly the most important stage of recruitment. The selected candidate personally meets with their potential employer. It’s an opportunity to assess interpersonal skills, verify professional competencies or references, and above all, to ask questions by both sides. When considering what to ask during a job interview, you must remember – as a future employee, that this may be the only chance to present yourself well, or as an employer – to get to know the candidate as a future employee.

What to ask the candidate during a job interview?

What questions can be asked to a candidate during a job interview? There are several areas within which a job interview can take place. Questions that seem important from our point of view should focus on: motivation, education, skills, professional experience, expectations, and availability. Questions asked to the candidate should give you an answer whether the candidate will be a member of your team.

If you’re not sure what questions to ask during a job interview, use the ones we’ve prepared:

• What are your duties and responsibilities in your current position?
• Why do you intend to change jobs?
• What projects and tasks have you been involved in?
• In which tasks do you feel strong?
• What prompted you to apply to our company?
• What motivates you to work?
• What is your level of education?
• Which of the acquired skills do you use most often in your daily work?
• What is your proficiency in foreign languages?
• What are your financial expectations?
• What do you expect from a new employer?
• What is the notice period in your current job?

Soft questions in a job interview

Soft questions are questions that do not concern technical skills or professional knowledge of the candidate. Their purpose is rather to understand the personality, motivation, and interpersonal skills of the candidate. They serve to find out whether the candidate fits into the organizational culture of the company. The question that will open this block of questions is a request for self-introduction – about your professional career, achievements, and interests.

Other soft questions include questions about:

• strengths
• ways of dealing with stress, conflict situations
• professional success
• approach to teamwork
• understanding of success

What questions to ask the employer? What questions to ask the recruiter?

Asking questions by the future employee is welcome. It is evidence that you are genuinely interested in the job and can take initiative.

Future employees often wonder what to ask during a job interview, what to ask the recruiter. If you’re wondering what to ask during a job interview, we’ll show you how to prepare for it.

Sample questions for a job interview regarding:

Job position:

• What exactly are my duties?
• What does the organization of the workday look like?
• Is the work associated with business trips?
• Can I work remotely or hybrid or only in the office?
• How will the effectiveness of my work be measured?
• Has anyone previously held this position?
• What are the office hours?

Team:

• Who will be my supervisor?
• Who will be in the team I will work with?
• Are there any traditions in the team (integration meetings, celebrating birthdays/namedays, holidays, and cultural traditions)?
• Will teamwork or individual work be more important in my position?

Employment conditions and development:

• What are the financial salary ranges?
• Does the company provide bonuses or other benefits?
• Do I have the opportunity for advancement?
• What could my career path look like?
• Will I have the opportunity to participate in training, workshops, conferences?

These are just examples of what you can ask the employer during the interview. If these proposed questions for a job interview do not give you full knowledge that you would like to have about your future workplace, prepare additional ones. It’s worth taking advantage of the opportunities that a job interview offers. Questions provide an opportunity to make decisions about whether this specific workplace is right for you. Especially when you are simultaneously in the process of several different interviews, detailed knowledge about the company can help you choose the best professional solution.

Job interview – advice:

• for employers/recruiters:

1. Create a good atmosphere. Since a job interview is one of the most stressful situations in life, it’s worth ensuring that the candidate relaxes from the outset. Don’t go straight to the point. Offer coffee/tea, ask less formal questions.
2. Present the meeting plan. This way the candidate will know how the stages of the interview will proceed.
3. Be a professional. Do not ask personal questions. What questions to ask during a job interview? Stick to those related to the job position or professional experience.
4. Summarize the interview. Explain what the next stages of recruitment will be.

• for the candidate

1. Prepare. Find out as much as possible about the company you are applying to. Be ready to present your professional experience, skills, and achievements.
2. Stay positive. Even if the interview does not result in a job offer for you, you will gain recruitment experience.
3. Avoid questions about: vacation, mandatory overtime.
4. Prepare questions for the interview. By asking questions, you will prove to the employer that you are genuinely interested in taking the position you are applying for.