10 Questions to Ask the Hiring Manager in an Interview

Interviews are a two-way opportunity to gain precious insights. It’s an avenue for employers to evaluate a potential candidate’s eligibility for the role and the candidates to assess if the job is a good fit for them and aligns with their goals. Asking smart questions shows your interest in the position and also helps in getting crucial information about the job, team, workplace culture, etc.  This also sets the tone for a mutual evaluation of the company and your candidature at the same time. This blog will explore 10 essential questions to ask in an interview to help you decide if the job is a good fit for you.

Questions About the Role

1. What are the immediate priorities for this role?

This hiring manager question aims to help you understand he prioritized tasks in your job that need to be taken care of from day one. This will give you an idea of the short-term goals and problems you’ll tackle in the first few months if you get hired. This sets the right expectations of the role for you, as per Glassdoor,  61% of employees say the realities of their new job differ from expectations set during the interview process. When you know these must-dos, you can highlight relevant skills fit for the role during the interview.

Why Ask This Question?

– To shed light on pressing duties and core job tasks
– Helps you size up how your talent fits their urgent needs
– Reflects that you’re eager and all set to dive right in from day 1

2. What does a typical day look like?

Inquiring about a typical workday sheds light on the job’s daily duties and responsibilities. It paints a picture of your potential workplace and schedule so you won’t stumble upon any surprises if you accept the job. This query also brings clarity to the job’s tempo and nature – whether it’s a highly structured role or a more flexible one.

The benefits of asking this question-

– To get a preview of the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities
– To grasp about the work environment and team dynamics
– To spot any routine tasks that might have slipped through the cracks in the job description.

3. What are the key skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?

This question helps you get an idea of what the hiring manager values the most in the candidate. Knowing their wishlist helps you tailor your responses in highlighting the strengths that best fit their criteria. It’s also an opportunity to talk about fixing potential skill gaps in your resume by sharing your plans to bridge them.

Why Ask This Question?

-To Align your skills and qualifications with the hiring manager’s expectations
– To recognize any specific skill or experience that you can emphasize in the interview
– To understand critical success factors for the role

Questions About Team and Company Culture

4. Can you tell me about the team I will be working with?

Getting to know about your future team is crucial to understanding team dynamics, team collaboration, and the overall workplace environment. This question lets you evaluate if you will mix well with the team and if your work style matches theirs. It also helps you get a sense of the team’s structure, roles, and way of interaction.

5. How does this team support the company’s mission and vision?

A clear picture of how your team contributes towards the company’s mission and vision enables you to connect the dots of everyday tasks with the goals of the organization. This provides a sense of purpose and alignment with your own career goals. When the company’s vision becomes clearer, and your place in it is more defined in your mind. It will be a major driver of your motivation and zeal at work.

The motivation behind this question-

• To understand the team’s impact on the company’s success
• To align your work with the company’s mission and vision
• To assess if the company’s goals resonate with your career aspirations

6. What is the company culture like?

One of the critical hiring manager questions to ask in an interview, company culture remains a vital point in job fulfillment and overall workplace happiness. Knowing more about the company culture helps you get your values and preferences right with the workplace environment. This question covers work-life balance, management style, employee engagement, and diversity and inclusion aspects. Not all organizations embrace diversity and inclusion and if that is a priority for you, then this question can be of great help. Although employees may think benefits play a big role in employee satisfaction, they only account for 12%. Culture and values and having strong leadership are crucial for employees when it comes to their satisfaction with their workplace and job.

Why ask this question?

• To know if the company’s values and practices align with yours
• To get a glimpse of the work environment and employee morale
• To evaluate work-life balance and employee well-being commitment of the organization

Questions About Growth and Development

7. What opportunities are there for professional development and advancement?

Career growth is the foremost reason why employees switch jobs in the first place, knowing that you will work in organizations that take career development and advancement opportunities seriously can be useful in long-term job satisfaction. As per Clear Company report/survey, If a company invests in employees’ careers, 94% said they would stay at the company longer. This question shows your commitment to your growth and hard work and you are eager to contribute towards the company’s success. This also sheds light on potential career paths and employee development within the company.
Why this Question?

• To know about growth and advancement opportunities
• To evaluate the company’s commitment and investment toward employee development
• To know about potential career paths

8. How do you measure success in this role?

Every job role requires specific key responsibilities to be fulfilled, and knowing what parameters are measured in the roles allows you to comprehend employee performance expectations and key performance indicators (KPIs). By asking this question, you get a clear idea of what efforts are needed to align with the company’s goals and what should be done to excel in this role.Reasons to ask this question-

• To know key performance metrics and criteria for success in the job role
• To sync your performance with the company’s expectations
• To identify the level of support and feedback you can receive

Questions About Challenges and Support

9. What are the biggest challenges someone in this role might face?

Every job role brings its own set of difficulties and challenges. Knowing about these potential challenges can help you prepare mentally and strategize in advance for the difficulties. This question also reflects your willingness to tackle difficulties and proactive approach to problem-solving. This indirectly inquires whether the management and company will equip you with the right training to handle the job role. 74% of workers say that a lack of employee development opportunities is preventing them from reaching their full potential, notes Clear Company.

Why Ask This Question?

• To know about specific difficulties and job challenges
• Help you prepare for the demands of the role
• To show your problem-solving approach and resilience

10. What kind of support does this team receive from management?

Through this question, you can understand the level of support the team receives from management and leadership. This gives you an insight into the leadership style of the company and how invested they are in the team’s success. This also gives you an idea of resource availability, leadership approach, and managerial support.

Read More: How to End an Interview

Conclusion

Asking strategic questions during the interview can open doors to valuable insights into the role, team, company culture, and leadership, helping you in making informed decisions. Through these questions, you can not only demonstrate your willingness and enthusiasm, you get the opportunity to learn about immediate priorities, everyday responsibilities, key skills, professional development opportunities, challenges, success metrics, etc. Remember, an interview is not just about impressing the hiring manager; it’s also about finding the right fit for your career growth and satisfaction through mutual dialogue and constructive discussions.

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