Questions You Should Ask In Your Next Interview!

I like to call the period of time between exams and summer "interview time"! So many students are looking for summer work or part-time work, which leads to a huge influx of students coming to the CareerZone looking for tips and tricks to nail that first impression and make a positive mark on the employer in an interview.

Often times, the primary focus in terms of preparation is going over potential questions you might be asked in an interview like "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" and "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?". Questions like these are great to practice ahead of time! 

However, one aspect of the interview that many students forget to think about is developing some questions to ask the employer in the interview. Not only does asking the employer questions in the interview show you know about the company, but it is also a sign of genuine interest in what the company is doing!

Here are some great questions you can ask at your next interview: 

1) What do you enjoy most about your job/the company?
2) What challenges could I expect to face if given the opportunity to work in this role?
3) Where do you see the company in terms of growth in the next 5 years?
4) What do you think are important skills to have to perform well in this role?
5) Are there opportunities for professional development or advancement? 

This is just a small sample of questions to consider asking in your next interview. Remember, the interview is not only a time where the employer learns more about you, it is also an opportunity to learn more about the company as well!

If you are looking for more assistance with interviews, check out our Interview Workshop on CareerZone! Be sure to check out InterviewStream as well (via CareerZone) for thousands of practice interview questions! Wondering what a specific company may ask you in an interview? No worries! GlassDoor is a great site for finding out the experiences of others who have interviewed with certain companies so you can better prepare your answers and potential questions to ask the employer.

Thanks for reading!

Scarlet Stark
Psychology Major
Lead Career Assistant 

5 Tips to Prepare for Interviews

There are plenty of ways you can prepare for an interview. Whether you have experience with interviews or are going into your first, you should always go through steps to prepare. Here are a few tips to follow while going into an interview:

1.   Rehearse Some Sample Questions!

There are some questions that are often asked in interviews. It’s good to rehearse your answers to these possible questions beforehand. For example, one of the most common questions asked is, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. Since this is such a common question and it’s about you directly, employers expect your best answer!

2.   Do Your Research!

A lot of companies look for employees who share their same values. Along with that, they like to make sure you fit in with the culture. By taking a few minutes to go over the company website you will generally be able to get an understanding of what they value. You’ll also get a sense of the culture as well; you can relate back to these values during the interview session.

3.   Prepare Questions to Ask.

Usually at the end of an interview the employer will ask if you have any questions for them. It’s good to prepare a couple quick questions. This gives the interviewer the sense that you are actually interested in the job. Along with that, it gives you the opportunity to learn a little more about the role/company.

4.   Dress Appropriately

While going into an interview, it’s always best to over dress rather than under dress. Professional business attire is always recommended when going to an interview. Also, bring some writing material with you. It’s always a good idea to bring a binder or a folder with paper and a pen.

5.   Read Over the Job Posting

Reading over the job posting gives you an idea of the kind of work you will be doing, the skills needed, and qualifications that are desired. This gives you the opportunity to think of situations from your past work experience when you have used these skills. Along with that, it may give you an idea of any situation questions the interviewer will ask. Lastly it prepares you to answer any questions based on your qualifications. If you don’t have a specific qualification, (i.e. Smart Serve,) you can simply mention you have plan on getting it.

For more information on interviews you can go to https://careerzone.brocku.ca workshops tabs in the Online Resource Centre!

Thanks for Reading!

Daniel Moody

Career Assistant

Business Communication Major