Job-ready skills: 10 questions for potential employers.

Congrats on landing your first job or internship interview! As you prepare for the event by practicing your elevator pitch and responses to common questions, take a few minutes to come up with a list of employer questions. 

After asking you about your skills and experience, most interviewers will give you an opportunity to ask a few questions of your own. And while you may be tempted to take a pass, it’s in your best interest to prepare a few questions in advance. Why? Because it shows you are interested in the employer, it gives you more information so you can evaluate whether the role is a good fit for you, and allows you an additional opportunity to sell yourself. 

To help inspire you, we’ve included a list of 10 questions below. The goal isn’t to ask all these questions; instead, you should choose a few that will help you better understand the job, internship, or project and position you as the best candidate.  

How will this job, internship, or project help your organization meet its goals?

This is a great big picture question to start with. The interviewer’s answer will give you a good sense of the organization's strategy and how the role you are interviewing for aligns with it. For example, suppose an online retail company is looking to attract younger customers, and you are interviewing for a social media internship. In that case, you’ll know that your work will be integral to the company’s success.

How will you judge the success of this role or project?

This question will help you understand what is most important to the employer and how you will be evaluated. Is it more important for that data hygiene project to be completed on time or to be accurate? The answer will guide how you will focus your time and energy.

Would you tell me about your team?

It always helps to understand how organizations work and how responsibilities are divided up so you can see where you fit in. Will you be working with a large team of specialists or a smaller team of generalists? And how often would you be interacting with other team members?

What are the most important skills for this role?

‍While the job description may already include a list of required skills, this is a smart question to ask. It provides insight into how the hiring manager prioritizes skills and offers the opportunity to share how you’ve utilized that skill. For example, suppose the manager says collaboration is key. In that case, you can share your experience as a striker on your school’s soccer team and how, by working together, you won the district championship last year.

What is the biggest challenge for someone taking on this role or project?

‍To determine if this role is the right fit for you, it’s important to know what you are signing up for. So, take the opportunity to learn all you can so you can make an informed decision. Maybe the organization has always marketed their products the same way so they need fresh ideas, or they haven’t used their data effectively so they need help with analysis. Once you understand the challenge, you can decide if the role is a good fit for you.

What training and career development opportunities are there for employees?

‍No matter where you are in your career journey, it’s important to keep up-to-date with your job ready skills to remain relevant in the workforce. Good employers realize this and provide their staff with professional learning opportunities like conferences, online learning, professional association memberships, and tuition reimbursement. As a current or recent student, thoughts of additional training may be far from your mind but it’s important to plan ahead. 

What does a typical day look like?

This question is an ideal way to gather logistical information, such as standard working hours, virtual vs. in-office expectations, and the time spent on individual work versus team meetings, among others. So, if you have family obligations that require you to be home by 6 PM every day and are unsure how to pose that question, the interviewer’s response that he typically works 9-5 lets you know the role fits with your schedule. 

Was there someone in this role before? 

‍The interviewer’s answer can give you good insights to the company. If the answer is yes and that person got promoted, you’ll know that the organization rewards performance. If the answer is no, you can ask why they decided to create the role at this time. .

What do you like most about this job/organization?

‍As a current employee, your interviewer will have valuable insights about the company and its culture. Use this opportunity to ask their opinion and see if their response aligns with what you value.

What is your timeline for making a hiring decision?

‍This is a good way to conclude the interview, and it gives you a reason to follow-up. If the interviewer says they will be making a decision in a week and you haven’t heard from them within that timeframe, you can follow up and ask for an update.

For more tips and resources on how to find a job or gain experience, visit Riipen’s Academy. For over a decade, Riipen has been the go-to resource for job-ready skills, internships, and hiring for students.