Practical interview questions to ask

Applying for jobs can be a long process with many steps. If you’re job hunting, you might have to submit quite a few applications before you land an interview.

Once all your hard work has paid off and you’re scheduled for an interview, it’s time to start preparing. While you study up on the company and get ready to share details about your skills and experience, the interview can also be a great opportunity for you to get the information you need about the role and the company.

Here are a few practical interview questions to help you learn about the job—and the company—and decide whether they’re a good fit for you, from specifics about the role, including how the company will define success, to benefit packages, including health and life insurance.

How do you define success in this position?

This question might give you a glimpse into what your day-to-day will look like and whether you feel the expectations for the role align with your skills and career goals. It could also show the interviewer that you are interested in in how you would contribute to the company’s success, which is a great impression to make.

What will the onboarding process look like?

The interviewer’s answer might include plans for how you’ll learn the company’s systems and processes, when you’ll sign necessary paperwork, how you’ll sign up for benefits (such as health insurance, life insurance, or retirement plans), or whom you can contact for help once you join the team. Knowing what the onboarding process will entail also might give you a glimpse into how organized the company is overall.

What is the company’s management style?

If you are speaking with your hiring manager, and you know they would be your supervisor in the role, you can also ask them about their management style. The way the interviewer responds could help you better predict what your day-to-day work could look like and how much everyday contact you would have with your manager—for example, they might say that they are very collaborative, which means you might work closely together, or very hands-off, which could mean you would work more independently.

What are the opportunities for growth and advancement?

If upward mobility in an organization is important to you, asking this question might help you understand how you can get promoted and earn raises over time.

Do you have remote or hybrid working options?

If a remote or hybrid role might make a job more appealing for you, consider asking this question in the interview process. Many companies offer this information in job postings now, but it can be helpful to clarify exactly how often you would be in the office.

What are next steps?

Whether there is just one interview or a few, ask the interviewer what the next step in the process will be. This can give you an idea of how quickly the company is moving and when—or if—you should follow up with them. It might also help the interviewer understand your excitement about the role and the company.

Happy job hunting!