10 Strategic Interview Questions to Win Over Potential Employers

If you’ve landed a job interview, congratulations! Now comes the next critical step: preparing for it.

Job interviews are a back-and-forth. It's important to ask questions that show you’re interested and a good candidate. Crafting questions that delve into various aspects of the job, company culture, and team dynamics is crucial.

Here are 10 impressive questions to ask that are focused, open-ended, and will ensure you make the most of this opportunity to find a suitable position and boost your bank account .

1. What are the day-to-day responsibilities?

It might sound a bit pedestrian, but you need to know what you might be getting yourself into.

Use this as a chance to gain insights about the role and assess its suitability. Understanding the day-to-day tasks provides clarity on the skills and strengths the bosses are looking for. You can address unexplored topics to make an informed decision about whether you want to pursue the job further.

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2. What challenges is the company facing right now?

This question shows the company that you’re committed and you care.

If you ask about its current challenges and how your role can contribute to addressing them, it shows you have a mentality for teamwork. It can also give you valuable insights into the company's dynamics — as well as your potential fit within it.

3. What’s the company’s stance on hybrid/remote work?

The pandemic might be over, but broadly speaking, remote and hybrid work isn’t going anywhere. While it’s true that many job listings will state upfront and in the description itself whether or not the job is remote or hybrid (or open to those options), it’s worth asking about.

Just try not to look too upset if you don’t get the answer you want.

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4. What are the biggest opportunities?

Asking about opportunities at the company serves as almost a counterpoint to the challenges it faces.

By asking, it shows you have ambition and want to understand the company's future direction and priorities. It's a proactive approach to gain insights into the company's upcoming goals and areas of focus.

5. What are some of the challenges of the job?

There are downsides and difficulties to every job. That’s a simple fact of life.

Understanding those, as well as areas that need improvement, allows you to prepare — and decide if you want to pursue the gig. Moreover, offering potential solutions shows you’re forward-thinking and committed to success, which can leave a lasting impression on your interviewer.

6. Where does this job fit within the company?

You can learn two things at once with this question. First, it reveals the organizational culture and values that guide everyone at the company toward a common purpose. Second, it shows your interviewer that you’re thinking strategically.

Along the same lines, a good follow-up is to ask how the job fits within a particular team.

7. What kind of training is required?

You aren’t always going to face a rigorous training regimen when you land a new job, but there’s usually some form of onboarding at the very least, so asking about it is prudent.

Researching the industry and role lets you ask smart questions about software, technology updates, and professional certification coverage. That alone shows you’re interested and prepared.

8. How are employees recognized and rewarded?

It’s important to know the company’s values — as well as how it values its employees — and you’ll want to be sure it aligns with your values.

Ask about recognition for high performers, and perhaps how it handles underperformers. If you’re looking for a more light-hearted environment, ask about the funniest thing that’s happened in the office recently. It’ll give you some insight into your potential colleagues’ sense of humor … or lack thereof.

9. What would you like to see from me in the first few months?

Understanding expectations is critical when it comes to a new job. Part of this is knowing where you stand. Part of it is also knowing what you can do to impress your boss.

This question shows your eagerness to make an immediate impact — and contribute positively. It also lets you gauge the interviewer's reaction, which can provide some insight into what they, and the company, are thinking.

10. What do you like about working for this company?

This puts a bit of a positive spin on things and it shows you’re curious about the company's culture and work environment.

It also prompts the interviewer to provide insights from their own experiences, which can give you a valuable perspective on the company's values and priorities.

Bottom line

Ultimately, the questions you ask during your interview should be built on the rapport you make with the interviewer. Tailor them to the interview context.

You can build on previous discussions by asking about specific projects or responsibilities. If you can seamlessly integrate your questions with topics you’ve already talked about, you should be ahead of the game.

And ask about the next steps in the process. The more information you have, the better decision you can make on whether the position will help provide the lucrative career you desire to get ahead financially .

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