Interviewer: “Do you have any questions for us?”....

​​Congratulations on scoring a job interview with your favourite for-purpose organisation. Please take a moment to pat yourself on the back as you and your CV worked its little butt off to be placed in the interview pile. Good job!

Now to prepare for the interview. First, may I suggest checking out the job interviews category on the Do Good Job's blog page and reading through all the excellent advice on answering the behavioural and skills-related questions that will be asked during your interview.

And once you have done that, come back and finish reading this one which is all about the questions YOU should be asking THEM to make sure they truly are going to be your favourite for-purpose organisation to work for.

Questions for your prospective employer

Gone are the days of one-sided interviews where the employer rarely expected you to answer anything but no when they asked if you had any questions for them at the end of the interview. It was just assumed because you had applied for the job, you already wanted to work for them, so there was no reason to ask; they were just being polite. 

Thankfully, employers, especially those in the for-purpose sector, now understand that the job interview is about getting to know each other. Thinking of questions to ask when you are in front of the panel can feel awkward, especially if you are nervous. But know that it is okay to ask. You want to know that this is a job you will be happy doing, so it’s better to ask at the get-go than to realise at the end of your first week that it isn't the right fit. Your prospective employer will also appreciate the interest you are showing in getting to know them better too.

Below are the top ten questions recruitment agencies consider most helpful in assessing if the for-purpose organisation is the one for you. Note, you don't have to ask all of them, but we recommend choosing at least one on each topic. 

TOP TIP: When asked if you have any questions, begin your reply with, "Well, I believe I have skills a, b and c and experience, but to be sure they will be fully utilised in your organisation, I would like to ask you…Questions about the role

• What does success look like in this role six-months to a year from now?

• Can you tell me a little about the professional development opportunities available within the organisation?

• How long do you think it will take to get up to speed in this role?  

• How is performance monitored?

• What strengths have you valued in the people who have done this role previously?

• What is the expected career path for this role?

Questions about management

• How would you describe your leadership style?

• If someone has an issue, how is it dealt with, and what recognition is there for doing something well?

• Why do you like working for this organisation?

• What do you feel most challenging about working for this organisation?

Questions about the company and the culture

• The pandemic has been challenging for maintaining cohesion in the workplace. Would you share with me what your organisation did to support your employees during that time?

• Would you tell me a little about the team I would be working in? For example, what's the dynamic and communication style like?

• Will I have the chance to meet with my potential manager and colleagues as part of the recruitment process?

• What are the organisation's goals, and how are these shared with staff?

Final questions

• What are the next steps in the interview process, and how long will it take for a decision to be made?

• Is there anything else you think I should know about before working for you that we haven't talked about?

• Is there anything else you would like to know about me that hasn’t been covered already?

Can I mention the S word?

If the S word you are thinking of is salary, then yes. At Do Good Jobs, we are part of the campaign to get every employer, including those in the for-purpose sector to advertise the expected remuneration for a role as part of the recruitment process. There are very few reasons why you shouldn't know how much you will be paid in return for your mahi (I couldn't think of any when researching this blog). Asking, at the very least, the salary range of the role should not act as a red flag to the employer especially if it hasn't already been mentioned in the job advert.  It’s fine to "inquire about what the employer thinks is an appropriate range for the role".  If the salary range was listed, you might also want to seek clarity on where on the scale they think you and your expertise would fit.

What not to ask   

A final piece of advice on what questions to ask at the end of your interview – avoid anything that will cause your prospective employer to question your dedication to the role, for example:

• What does your organisation do? – You should have already researched this before applying for the job.

• How soon can I take time off? – Unless you have an important event that cannot be changed e.g. your wedding or civil partnership.

• Can I work whenever it suits me? – The role may offer flexible hours, but these are generally expected to be done during business hours.    

All the best for your interview. Please let us know in the comments if this our advice helped or any advice you have for others about questions to ask in a job interview. --