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Blog

Important questions
to ask during an interview



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Introduction
It is crucial to be prepared at the point in an interview where the hiring party has completed their part of the meeting and opens the floor for your questions. Well-thought planning of your response and a list of topics you would like to learn more about can help you make a choice and show the employer that you are a thorough, diligent and interested candidate.
  • Lisa Rahmanova
    At Selecty, we understand that the employment process is often stressful and can be tedious for both the applicant and the employer. Therefore, in addition to preparing for an interview, a future employee must clearly understand the purpose of a job search. To "sketch" the profile of an ideal company, you can start with a mindmap.
    From the general to the particular:
    • Determine the field in which you want to work.
    • Identify attractive companies within this direction.
    • Do not forget to prepare your list of questions for an interview.
    Do not hesitate to ask about the company's plans and what priority goals and tasks it currently faces. Figure out what a valuable contribution you can make to the company's overall development. Remember, "The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team."
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Helpful tips
Focus on the goals.
Certainly, your main goal is to evaluate how well you fit into the company you are interviewing with and determine if this opportunity is right for you. However, you should also use this part of the meeting to emphasize your suitability for the position offered. To elegantly execute this in conversation, simply say: "I do have several questions, but before that, can I say one thing?" After that, you can bring up your prepared key points that weren't covered during the questions asked so far or reiterate the main strengths that make you the best candidate for the job and move on to the questions.
Tailor your questions.
Instead of asking general questions, try making them pertinent to you and the role you are applying for. For instance, when asking about working hours, say: "what is my typical day going to be like in this role?" It's a slight difference, but it will help your interviewers envision you in the role, thus increasing your chances of getting an offer.
Continue the conversation.
Building your question off of what has already been said is always good practice. For example, if a particular project or direction has been mentioned during the interview, try to include that in some questions. It is important not to fall into the habit of repeating what has already been said but to build on top of the conversation, ensuring a smooth transition from one part of the interview to the next.
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Categories of questions
1
About the company
Topics of discussion: company goals, values, plans for future development and expansion.

Try to avoid questions, the answers to which can be easily found online. In order to do so, try conducting some preliminary research prior to the interview.

2
About the project/role you are applying for
Topics of discussion: responsibilities, the project's idea, important milestones and deadlines, most pertinent skills

Understanding how your performance will be evaluated and by whom is also important. Learning about a company's hierarchy early on can provide invaluable insight into how it functions.
Asking about their vision for an ideal candidate can also provide you with meaningful information.

3
About team and company culture
Topics of discussion: challenges, division of responsibilities, team members and team structure, company events, and activities.

A good question to ask is about onboarding and how it is handled. If you plan to work remotely, inquire about how remote employees are integrated into the company culture.
4
About career path, development, potential opportunities
Topics of discussion: learning opportunities, professional growth, and promotion policies.

It is crucial to see yourself in the role you are applying for and where your career path with this company can lead you to. You can ask about an example of a professional journey starting from the position you are interviewing for.
5
Closing questions
Topics of discussion: further steps, clarifications, further communication.

Once you've asked all the questions you had in mind, remember to conclude with several questions regarding the next steps in the process and any additional information you can provide for the employer.
Questions to avoid.
This is tricky, but you should generally avoid asking questions about your starting salary, insurance, and vaccinations or leave. These points should be initiated and covered by the hiring party. In cases where it wasn't mentioned, it is better to leave them off for later inquiry. A first interview is unknown territory, so you cannot be sure if it is okay to make such inquiries. Also, don't appear presumptuous and overly direct by asking for a decision immediately. Being patient, grateful, and pleasant can go a long way.
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Conclusion
This part of the interview should not be taken for granted. It's a chance to prove yourself and determine if the position is right for you.
Lastly, Selecty experts advise you to pick several questions that are important to you and are relevant to the role you are applying for. Be mindful of the time allocated for the interview as well. We believe that 2 or 3 mindfully picked questions can be enough to conclude the first meeting. And if you have more, you can always ask them once you move to the next stage or once you have an offer on hand.
Selecty team wishes you luck in finding the job of your dreams!
Want to learn more? Contact us
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