What questions to ask in a recruitment interview?

“Do you have any questions?” This question, often overlooked by job seekers, is in fact a significant moment in the job interview. If you decline to ask your recruiter questions, you are passing up a unique opportunity to demonstrate your keen interest for the role and learn more it, in order to decide if it’s really for you.

It is thus very important, not only to say ‘yes’, but to have prepared a bank of questions in advance. If you want to have a genuine conversation with your recruiter, show off your creativity and originality, and leave a great first impression, get inspired by our list of the best questions to ask a recruiter during an interview.
Of course, it isn’t necessary to ask every question on this list; a good rule of thumb is to ask between 3-5 questions at the end of your interview.

1. Questions about the job

Make sure you leave with a detailed overview of the job and the tasks you will be responsible for. Avoid asking questions which are already answered in the job description.
  • What are the biggest challenges the person in this role would face?
  • What personal qualities and skills are looking for in this role?
  • Could you give any more precise details on the daily responsibilities in the role?
  • What are you hoping me to achieve in this role?

2. Questions about the company and the sector

These questions will give you insights into the company’s future challenges, culture and working environment.
  • What are the main specificities of the company’s culture?
  • What is competitive advantage of the targeted company over other companies in the sector?
  • What are the company’s current main objectives and how does my team contribute to them?

3. Questions about the organisation and the team

A job interview should assure the recruiter that you are ready to collaborate with other employees, and that you will be able to integrate well into the team.
  • How is the working atmosphere? More collaborative or autonomous?
  • Who will be my manager, and what are their responsibilities? What is their seniority?
  • Can you give an overview of your remote working policy?
  • How will my work be evaluated?

4. Questions on training and career progression

What are your long-term career goals? Each potential role is part of your broad career trajectory, so it’s one of the most relevant topics to talk about.
  • What is the training system after on-boarding?
  • What is the general training policy?
  • What are the opportunities for career progression?
  • What kind of mentoring system have you put in place?

5. Questions about the recruitment process

These are good questions to ask at the end of the interview: it’s now or never! Make sure you have gathered all the necessary information about the next steps in the recruitment process.
  • What are the next steps in the recruitment process?
  • Do you have anything else that you would like to clarify about my career or my professional experiences?
  • How many more candidates do you plan to meet?
Finally, to conclude your interview (and our article!), do not hesitate to ask your interviewer “Do you have any final questions to ask me?”.
This way, you are showing that you are transparent and available.

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