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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What to ask interviewer at end of interview??

42 replies

Pombearsandnaiceham · 20/07/2017 23:55

I've got a job interview next week and am a bit stuck on what questions to ask at the end of the interview. (The interview's for a communications role).

So far, I've thought of questions like asking the interviewer:

  • How they got into the industry,
  • What they think are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the industry
  • What they enjoy most about their role
  • What the work culture and environment at the company is like (if it hasn't already been touched on in the interview).

If anyone has any ideas about other questions, please do post your suggestions here :)

Thanks!

OP posts:
Seren85 · 21/07/2017 01:39

I usually ask what it is about the company that they enjoy being an insider (ie not something you should get from the values on the website) and what do they consider to be the next big challenges or changes to the department or team and how X role fits in. A lot of my interviews were for legal training contracts so you'd try to ref a case an interviewer had done (so staged but sadly works) and then ask about them.

ManyManyShoes · 21/07/2017 01:39

How about what kinds of skills do you think I need to have/improve for this role? Shows you are keen to learn. And oh yes definitely ask company related questions to show youve done your research.

diodati · 21/07/2017 07:59

Don't ask about training possibilities. The bottom line of any business is making a profit; don't ask them to invest money in improving your skills before you're hired. Emphasize your skills, be positive without exaggerating.

Smallplant · 21/07/2017 08:32

What's the AIBU?

I'm sorry OP, but are you the same poster with three different usernames, posting all these threads (multiple a day at this point) asking for career advice, what job would suit you based on your past experience, how to break into the field of communications, how to act in your interview, etc etc? It's just a bit much! This is AIBU, not a careers advice forum. Is there no one you can ask for advice irl?

OutToGetYou · 21/07/2017 14:18

"Don't ask about training possibilities. The bottom line of any business is making a profit; don't ask them to invest money in improving your skills before you're hired."

There is definitely a line, depending how it is approached and the type/level of job - sometimes I feel the line is crossed by interviewees who go on about what a great company we are, how much they can learn, how they really want to develop their xx skills and so on. I am known to say to co-interviewers afterwards "do they think we don't need them to actually do a job, that we're just here to train them!"

As for all the people saying "I always ask that question and I always get the job" - lol, really now! How many jobs exactly do you apply for then? And are you sure you ask it every time? Are you sure you only asked it at the jobs you got or are you that rare unicorn who has never been turned down for any job? (in which case your limited experience isn't that useful is it?).

It is a question that makes interviewers roll their eyes. But, you know, it's very 'on trend' currently to be this self-absorbed so I'm sure it's fine in some types of job....

whitershadeofpale · 21/07/2017 16:57

I'm one of those people outtogetyou. I said I get them the majority of the time. I haven't got every job I've ever gone for no (I've had eight jobs that I've got after an interview process- not just promotion, sideways step etc out of probably 12 interviews), but the last two times I was job hunting I had offers from two jobs to pick between and before I didn't get the job I'd interviewed for, but they created a new position for me instead that was suited to my skills and actually better than the advertised one.

Now I know that I'm lucky in that I can do well in interviews, I stay calm, I can think on my feet and I'm good at reading people (I'm not anywhere near as good at applications), the jobs I haven't got are because I haven't had enough relevant experience, not because I've asked that question.

I've asked it for around 10 years now so it's not 'on-trend', and frankly I can't understand the issue with being self-absorbed in that scenario- you're spending an hour or so talking about yourself and why your're a good match for the company after all!

I don't think it will guarantee you a job by any stretch but asked in the right way to the right recruiter it's a fantastic way of scoping out how they're thinking and being able to address any issues that you may have not thought about, or convinced them enough over.

ManyManyShoes · 25/07/2017 18:38

@outToGetYou, depends on what industry you are in. I'm in tech so being keen to learn and be trained/updated with new skills is a requirement when I interview. My favorite question would be what website or blog do you follow to update your skills? If they go ermm errrrrr we usually say no. I need people who have passion to learn and are self starters.

Pancaker · 25/07/2017 18:42

What do you enjoy most/least about working here?

Should reveal something about what it's really like to work there.

limon · 25/07/2017 18:57

The best question i have ever been asked by an interviewee was "have I given you enough infornation to secure the job and if not what else can I tell you to help me secure the role?"

allaboutthatsass · 07/08/2017 19:37

I like that last suggestion

niccyb · 07/08/2017 20:03

One that always throws them is what attracted them to he company/place of work? Or what does working for he company/place of work mean to them?

HighwayDragon1 · 07/08/2017 20:14

Career progression and opportunity for personal development are good questions to ask, particularly for junior roles.

Muddlingalongalone · 07/08/2017 20:24

I love that limon - have an internal interview with my boss on weds and was planning a variation on what would you consider would be the biggest challenge for me in this role but I think that is brilliant!

hippadoppaloppagorillapig · 07/08/2017 21:55

1 - if i were to be successful, what would my first week be like? (Give them the opportunity to visualise you in the role)

2 - Are there any areas for improvement in the company that I could rectify if I were to be successful? (or something similar - makes them properly think about your answers)

eatingonlyapples · 07/08/2017 21:57

"Why has the position become available?"

I sorely wish I had asked this at my previous jobs because, even if the answer was vague, it may have flagged up issues with management that caused people to leave very soon after joining...

KidLorneRoll · 07/08/2017 21:58
  • How they got into the industry,
  • What they think are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the industry

Do not ask these two under any circumstances. The first one is just weird, frankly, and the second displays a lack of knowledge and research - you should know what these things are going into the interview., not be asking them at the interview.

Just have a think about what would make the job appealing to you and ask about that - training opportunities, travel opportunities, things like that are always good things to check on.

KidLorneRoll · 07/08/2017 21:59

"Don't ask about training possibilities. The bottom line of any business is making a profit; don't ask them to invest money in improving your skills before you're hired. Emphasize your skills, be positive without exaggerating."

Nonsense, asking about training is demonstrating a willingness to learn and develop.

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