A job interview is not just an opportunity for the employer to find out more about you, it is also an opportunity for you to find out more about the employer.

By asking questions it not only helps you to gather more information about the role, it also allows you to impress the hiring manager.

Read on to find out our top 5 questions to ask in an interview…

What skills and experiences are you looking for in an ideal candidate?

Obviously different skills are required for different jobs, as a candidate you must ensure that you have the right skill set for the role you are interviewing for. The worst thing that could happen is not knowing the skills required, getting offered the job and then realising you are unable to do the work.

So this is where our first question comes in to play. It’s a brilliant question to ask, this will encourage the interviewer to state exactly what they are looking for. They may mention something they have not yet covered or something that wasn’t even in the job description, so now is your chance to get that information.

This question also creates an opening for you to show off the skills you have that are relevant to the role and how you have previously approached different challenges with these skills.

Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?

Imagine being successful for a role and not knowing what you are going into on your first day, it’s helpful to understand what your day-to-day responsibilities are going to be.

You do not want to leave the job interview with minimal information, you should try to gain more of an insight into the different duties that are required form you.

How do you define success for this role?

This question enables you to get a clear understanding of what you’ll be expected to achieve within the role, for example you may have targets or goals to reach on a daily / weekly basis.

Some of the points made after asking this question may not be already laid out in the job description. It’s common for the employer to have a more in depth job description than what is advertised online. The job advertisement online will only lay out the key points you need to know about the job, whereas managers usually have their own ideas on what’s most important for the role.

What is the typical career path for someone in this role?

You may know what you want to achieve when you join a company, how you achieve that is the question.

When asking this question, it shows that you are interested in growing within the company and that you are enthusiastic and optimistic about the opportunity. The only thing you don’t want to do is ask the question in a way that sounds too pushy, for example “When can I expect a promotion?”

What are the next steps in the interview process?

If you are interested in the role you are interviewing for, it’s important to show the interviewer that you are eager to move forward in the interview process. This question will help you gain information about the timescale for the interview process and when it will move onto the next stage.

Preparing for an interview?

Preparing for an interview? Looking for tips and tricks to help you prepare?

Check out our 10 Point Plan of Action for some interview advice that will enable you to sell yourself and do your best.