“The hiring manager won’t go into explicit detail about everyone, but they may share basic information about colleagues, managers and explain the size of the team and company structure,” Gorton says.

Would I be working with a small or large team, and can you tell me a little more about the people I’d be working with?

Who would I be reporting to and what would my contact with that person look like?

Will I have a chance to meet my potential manager or colleagues during this process?

How would you describe the dynamics of the team that I’d be working with?

If I’m successful, do you have someone in my team who would act as a mentor or ‘buddy’ for the first little while?

Company culture

“If you’ve done your research on the company, you may know these answers, but ask them anyway and listen carefully for the qualities most important to you. For example, employee appreciation, company-paid employee development opportunities, casual dress, and so on,” Gorton says.

How would you describe the workplace culture?

What do you enjoy most about working here?

What would your staff say the most challenging thing about working here is?

What are some of the biggest opportunities the company has at the moment and what does this mean for the staff?

What makes people want to continue working at this company?

Training and development

These questions can help you find out if and how the company could help you stay on top of the latest news and best practices in your industry, Gorton says. For example, you may want to find out if you’d be able attend conferences or register for online courses.

What types of professional development opportunities are offered?

If I was offered this role, is there any training you think I’d need to undertake immediately?

What do you imagine the career path to be for someone in this role?

How do you help your team members grow and develop professionally?

Can you tell me about your employee performance review processes?

Next steps

“Learning more about the key objectives of the organisation will help to determine how you can play a part in achieving them,” Gorton says. “Asking about goals can also help you get a feel for the company’s performance and any struggles it may be facing.”

What is the company strategic plan for the next 12 months, and how will it impact this role?

What are the next steps in the interview process?

Could you tell me the timeline for making a decision and when you think I can expect to hear from you?

Is there anything else you need from me to help you make your decision?

Is there anything that we haven’t discussed that you think is important for me to know about working here?

These questions can help you determine whether the role is right for you, and show your potential employer that you’re enthusiastic, interested and prepared. When it’s your turn for questions, ask a range of them so you can close off your interview with confidence.

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