Your job interview isn’t a one-way street where only the employer has the opportunity to ask questions. A good interview is a meeting where there is effective communication between both parties. You need to ask targeted questions to determine how suitable this opportunity really is for your growth and the ability to achieve your goals.

1. Stability and Advancement

How stable is this position and what prospects for advancement are there? Is this a static position that has little opportunity for growth or is it a position that offers the ability to interact with other departments, learn new skills and be challenged in the future?

Ask a general question to find out why the incumbent left. It will also provide information on where the person has moved on within the company. This gives you insight as to what the promotional possibilities are, if any.

• Why are you looking to fill this role?
• What happened to the person who was in this position previously?
• How long have you been looking to fill this role?

Find out if they are in a panic or if they are taking a more measured approach to this hiring. If they have been looking for a long time, maybe your negotiating position will be strengthened if you have the skills they need.

2. Understanding What They Are Looking For

This gives you a sense of whether or not the interviewer understands the demands of the job and the expectations placed on the successful candidate. This will also indicate how important your job is in the organizational scheme of things. It gives you a sense of the level of responsibility involved and how visible the position is for future promotions. It is important to know what the expectations of performance are and what factors they will review to assess your progress.

• What are you looking for in a candidate?
• What would you say is the most challenging part of this role?
• What role would I play in the department?
• What kind of person has been successful in this job previously?
• How will my performance be measured?
• Where can I go within the company in the future?
  
  
  

These are a few of the questions that you can consider when assessing the suitability of an employer. You owe it to yourself to have a clear understanding of their expectations to avoid making a move for short-term gain but long-term dissatisfaction.