What Questions To Ask In An Interview

When you are interviewing for a job, you never know what questions you are going to be asked. Many interviewees spend a long time preparing for what they will be asked but give little thought to what they can ask their interviewer. Below are some of the best questions to ask prospective employers and prove to them that you are serious about the role you are applying for.

Can You Tell Me More About The Day-To-Day Responsibilities For This Role?

One of the most important general interview questions to ask regardless of the role that you are applying for is what exactly the day-to-day responsibilities will be should you get the job. In most cases, you will already have a pretty good idea about what it is that you will be doing if you do manage to get the job, but asking this question reaffirms to the interviewer that you care about the details and that you are engaged with the interview process.

In some cases, you may be surprised by some of the day-to-day tasks that the job you have applied for entails. Hopefully, these revelations will not throw a spanner in the works as far as your suitability for the role is concerned, but even if that is the case, it is better to find out now than later. In either case, you can prepare yourself accordingly for the job you are applying for.

What Can I Do In My First Months To Hit The Ground Running?

Any business will prefer to hire a new worker who is eager to learn and clearly enthusiastic and passionate about the job they are applying for. You don’t need to go overboard and try to convince your interviewer that this job is literally the most important thing in the world to you (if this is the case, it is probably better to keep it to yourself). However, do ask them about what you can do during your first months to make sure that you are getting up to speed as quickly as possible and contributing as much as you can to the business from the word go. This will show them that you are a diligent worker and that you want to do the job to the best of your abilities.

Not only does this question send all the right signals to your interviewer, but it also perfectly positions you to start ramping up your performance and attaining your maximum efficiency as soon as possible. If there are multiple stages of the interview process, this also gives you some things to work on between now and the next round.

An interview question that many interviewees struggle with is the what is your weakness interview question? The worry is usually that giving the wrong answer will damage the interviewee’s chances of landing the job. In most cases, these worries are just a side-effect of the standard anxieties that come with any job interview, but if you are concerned about the answer you gave, asking this follow-up question will show that, whatever your weaknesses might be, you want to improve yourself.

What Are The Training And Progression Opportunities Like At This Business?

Ambition is another quality that is valued by businesses across the board. It is never too early to start thinking about and making plans for your future and demonstrating to a potential employer at the interview that you are already thinking about your career progression opportunities will show that you have ambition in spades.

Hopefully, you will have researched the job that you are applying for beforehand, so you already have a basic idea of what to expect from the role in both the short and long-term. But in some cases, you may still be surprised by the breadth of career progression opportunities that exist within a business. You might already think you know what you want to do and where you want to go, but if you then learn that opportunities exist that you had no idea about, you can adjust your course and aim for these.

As well as asking about what the career progression opportunities are, you should also ask exactly what you need to do to move between them. Getting the specifics about what you need to do to progress through the ranks will provide you with a more detailed picture and enable you to start preparing to progress up the career ladder as soon as possible.

Where Is The Business Headed Over The Next 5 Years?

Just like people, businesses also have long-term plans and ambitions. It is a good idea to discover what the long-term plans of a business are before you confirm that you want to work there. This doesn’t just demonstrate to your interviewer that you are curious about the business, it also indicates that you are ready to make a long-term commitment and are thinking seriously about the future.

Hopefully, the long-term plans for the business will match up with your own ambitions and hopes for the future. But if anything you hear about the business’s plans give you cause for concern, then it is worth asking follow-up questions. Some interviewees are apprehensive about asking questions that might indicate they are considering anything other than seizing the opportunity in front of them. However, the best employers will respect interviewees who are considering their options and clearly appreciate their own value. Ensuring that you are a good match for the business in front of you in the long term is a clear indicator that you are taking your future seriously.

Can You Tell Me About The Working Culture Of Your Business?

If you ask anyone who has had significant managerial experience what questions to ask in an interview, one of the most common responses you will get is, “Ask about the corporate culture.” No matter where you work or what role you do, you will have to be able to get along with your peers, your boss, and your subordinates (if you have any). Workers within a business whose personalities clash with the overarching corporate culture often experience much lower levels of job satisfaction.

Before you go into any job interview, you should aim to do as much research as possible about the business you are applying to, so hopefully, you should have some idea of the kind of corporate culture that exists. However, asking this question doesn’t just enable you to affirm what you already think, it will also give you some insight into how senior staff within the business view their own corporate culture. This in itself can sometimes tell you more than the answer they give you.

What Is The Average Turnover And Retention Rate For Staff?

One of the best indicators of what an employer is like and what job satisfaction is generally like amongst workers in their business is to ask them about their turnover and retention rates. This will inform you as to how often staff are leaving the business and will also give you an indication of whether this is an employer with whom you can have a long-term career.

Some jobs and industries are expected to have reasonably high turnover rates, so it is a good idea to ascertain what the industry average is prior to your interview. If you are given a turnover rate for staff that is well out of line with the industry average, it is worth asking why this is.

What Are The Most Challenging Aspects Of This Job?

Asking about the challenges that a job entails will give you more detail about what to expect from the role. It will also give you some insight into how managers within the business view the work you will be doing and what challenges they expect workers to take on. Asking this question at the end of your interview will show a prospective employer that you are ready to take on any challenges that come your way, and that you want to prepare yourself for them appropriately.

What Skills Should I Develop In Order To Progress?

If you want to know how to ace a marketing interview, one of the most important things you can do is to demonstrate to your interviewer that you are eager to perform the role to the best of your abilities with a view to progressing through the business in the future. If your career progression is going to be tied to specific qualifications or training, this will also give you an opportunity to get a headstart on these.

How Long Should It Take To Hear Back After The Interview?

Asking how long to hear back after an interview is one of the most important questions in your interview. People are, well, human. They make mistakes and things slip their minds. If you don’t hear back about your interview within a certain timeframe then it is worth chasing up – don’t allow yourself to be left in limbo.

What Do I Need To Know For The Next Round?

For interviews that consist of multiple rounds, you might need to bring different evidence and supporting documents with you. Asking what to bring to an interview will ensure that you are prepared for the next stage and there are no miscommunications between you and the employer.

You should always try and think of something to ask after an interview. Over the course of your interview, listen carefully and try to think of any other potential questions you can ask.

If you’re interested in searching for a new Digital Marketing position, head over to our Job Opportunities page and browse through our latest vacancies.

About Acquire Digital Talent

In 2018 Acquire was established by Alex Marriner who has over a decade of experience within the Digital Marketing Recruitment space.

We are dedicated to securing the very best Digital Marketing talent for some of the most exciting tech start-ups, high growth businesses & established brands in London and across Digital Hubs within Europe. These include brands such as Starling Bank, Popsa, Motorway, Houst, and Trainline.

We bring the knowledge and expertise to build highly successful Digital Marketing teams so your business can grow whilst supporting Digital Marketing professionals with the guidance required to further their careers.

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