5 questions to ask at an interview

5 Questions to ask at an interview

One of the most crucial parts of any interview for a job in Zambia is when the interviewer asks whether you have any questions for them. This is a great opportunity for you to show:

  • That you are enthusiastic and passionate about the role
  • That you are organised and have prepared some well thought-out questions in advance of the interview
  • That you have excellent listening skills and have the ability to pick up on important points raised during the interview

Perhaps most importantly this is an opportunity to address any reservations that they may have about your suitability for the role – more of this in a few moments.

Top 5 Questions

We would always suggest preparing at least 5 questions in advance of any interview. This does not mean that you have to ask all 5 question. It also does not mean that cannot ask other questions should the need arise. However, preparing these 5 questions could be of significant use.

  1. Why is the role open? This can provide you with useful insights into the organisation and the role available. If this is a new role, then there may be more scope for an individual who is a motivated, self-starter who can proactively develop a new role. If this is an existing role you can ascertain why the role has become available. Was the previous worker promoted/fired?
  2. What challenges does the interviewer see in this role? This is a great question to ask as you are asking the interviewer about the problems (we say challenges as this is more positive) within the role. Once the interviewer has provided an answer you can provide a response demonstrating how you can meet these challenges.
  3. What are your expectations for the successful candidate? Similar to the above question, you are asking for information from the interviewer so that you can demonstrate your suitability for the role and how you will meet or exceed expectations.
  4. What are the priorities in this role? This will help you to understand what the immediate priorities are should you get the job. How realistic these priorities are and will you be able to deliver?
  5. Do you have any concerns regarding my suitability for this role? This is a vital question to ask at the end of an interview as it provides you with a final opportunity to influence the employment decision about to be made by the interviewer. If the employer states they do have concerns about your suitability (for example – lack of relevant experience or a particular skill) you may be able provide information and examples that will change their mind and leave a positive impression of you at the end of the interview.

How many questions should I ask during an interview?

Ask too many questions and you could be seen as wasting the employers precious time, ask too few questions and you could be seen as having failed to adequately prepare – or even worse you could be seen as being disinterested in the role. The answer to the question really depends on the information already discussed during the interview. As a rule we would suggest asking no more than 5 questions and perhaps only 2 or 3 depending on the information already discussed.

Further Information

To find more careers articles visit: Careers Advice

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1 thought on “5 questions to ask at an interview”

  1. Those are all great questions to ask. You can also ask the following:
    If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start?
    Whom will I be working most closely with if I am extended a job offer. These can be asked if they were not covered during the interview process.

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