QUESTIONS TO ASK IN A JOB INTERVIEW

My tips for writing a good CV seemed to go down well so I thought I would follow up with my favourite questions to ask in a job interview (which you'll hopefully get with your newly improved CV!).

What is the team like?
A job might be perfect on paper, but it's important to get a gauge of the working environment. Do the team socialise together? Do senior and junior members interact much with each other? Do they organise things together outside of work? Likewise, it might be important to you that work is kept separate from your life outside work, so tailor your questions accordingly.

Why are you recruiting for this role?
The job you're going for might be a newly-created opening - good news, as it shows the team/company is grown - or you might want to find out why the previous employee is moving on. Is there opportunity for progression? How long was the person before you in the job for? If they weren't there for very long, ask why.

Is there anything about my CV/experience that concerns you?
Giving the interviewer a chance to critique you or raise any concerns they have about your capabilities gives you the chance to put their mind at ease and to explain that either you have the skills or that you are a quick learner and it's something you want to add to your skill set. This is my favourite question and I think interviewers are often surprised by it; it shows you can take criticism and that you are willing to work on anything that they might be worried about.

What benefits do you offer?
Asking about benefits doesn't have to be a 'greedy' question. Particularly when it comes to pensions and travel schemes, showing an interest in long-term benefits shows a commitment to the role and an interest in your future within the company. It's also a good bargaining tool; the perks aren't great but you like the job, it might be a good way to ask for more money when it comes to talking salary.

Can you describe a typical day?
I've left so many job interviews excited about a job, only to realise that I don't actually know what the day-to-day role involves and I'm unsure about exactly what I might be doing. This is a good way to find out if the position is very structured or if it's a bit more fluid - different things work for different people - and to really find out if you actually want the job.

I hope these questions are helpful and something you might refer back to in the future, should the opportunity arise. Of course, there are plenty of other things you can ask, but these are the questions that really stand out for me from both sides of the recruitment process.

And most importantly…good luck, have fun and show them the real you; don’t just say the things you think they want you to say, make them want you for the things you think are worth saying.