Preparing for an interview is key to interview success; however, preparing the questions you’re going to ask at the end of an interview is critical too.

Asking the right questions at the end of an interview shows several qualities, including showing you want to know more, that you’re engaged with the company beyond the job specification, and it can paint you in a better light and help you stand out.

Asking the right questions at the end of an interview doesn’t just reflect well on you, but it also provides you with much-needed insight to allow you to qualify the company and the hiring manager and assess whether the role is right for you.

The key to preparing your questions is to think outside the box about things you want to know – don’t ask questions just for the sake of it, and don’t ask questions which you can find the answer to, just by googling it or looking at their website.

Here are some top questions to consider that might give you a better insight into the company, the role, and the potential career progression.

What would the day-to-day responsibilities of this role look like?

What do you want the successful candidate to achieve in the first six months?

How would you describe the company culture?

What learning and progression programmes does the organisation offer?

What would your ideal candidate look like, and how well do you think I match the requirements of this role?

What are the next steps in the hiring process?

Very few jobs look the same daily; however, the answer to this question should give you a strong idea of what will be expected of you. The answer to this question may also help you by enabling you to reiterate some of your additional skills which may be suited to the job.

Any great salesperson will have a 30, 60 and 90-day plan, but the company will most likely have one in mind too. Finding out the expectations of the company allows you to see whether your plans align, helping you to decide whether the company is right for you.  The information they share on KPIs, and targets will give you the chance to talk about your ability and confidence to achieve them.

You can also ask about what current employees have achieved within their first six months so you can benchmark expectations against reality to see whether the earning potential is realistic and achievable.

Although a company’s culture can’t be faked internally, a company can dress it up to look better than it is to people who are on the outside looking in. Asking what the company culture is like shows you’re willing to be invested in the company, and you’re truly interested in the mission, environment, and values. Once you have an answer to this question, you can also assess whether their values align with yours so you can make a decision on whether the company is right for you.

Great companies constantly develop their workforce, and upskilling is a quality you want the company you work for to have. They should want their company to grow, and that can only happen if its workforce grows with it – not just in numbers but in knowledge too. You want to know how the company is going to support your professional and personal growth if you plan on staying there for a long time. Knowing how the company is going to support your continuous development shows good insight into their culture and the success of their current employees. Every day should be a school day.

This is a great question to get instant feedback on how the interview went. It also forces the hiring manager/interviewer to reflect on the interview instantly and give you some honest feedback. The answer may also highlight a concern about a skill/experience gap you may have, which you can address straight away.

Whatever the answer, it will give you some indication of whether the interview has been a success or not.

This question is often forgotten at the end of an interview, leaving the candidate wondering when they’re going to hear about a decision or whether there are 3 more interviews to be had. Asking this question doesn’t only shed light on the recruitment process but also shows you’re interested in the next stages.

Oakstone tip: Remember that interviews are two-way meetings. Not only is it a chance for the company and hiring manager to get to know you, but also a chance for you to get to know them and qualify whether the role is right for you.  Prepare the questions you want to know the answers to and make sure you make the right decisions when it comes to your career.