Top Questions Every Candidate Should Ask in an Interview
How a little extra preparation will help you land your next DC marketing and communications job opportunity
You heard about an exciting marketing or communications role with a great Washington, DC-area company, you’ve submitted your resume and likely gone through a few rounds of initial screenings to land an interview. Leading up to the day of the interview you have fastidiously prepared by researching the company’s website, reading any recent news articles about the organization, looking up the interviewers on LinkedIn, and rehearsing for any and all questions you might get during the interview. Well done! But you are only halfway there…
Candidates sometimes forget one important aspect of interview preparation: asking a few thoughtful questions during the interview.
Asking questions is not only your opportunity to get a better sense of the role and the company to make sure it’s a good fit, but also a smart way to show hiring managers your interest in the role and level of curiosity and engagement – all things prospective employers love about candidates.
You very well may (and should) have several questions during the interview process, but these questions below are a helpful guide if you aren’t entirely sure what to ask. A quick Google search yields hundreds of sample questions. We’ve divided the best into three categories below:
Role questions:
- What are the traits that are most desirable for this role?
- How will they measure success in this role?
- What is the top priority for this position in the first 3-6 months?
Organization Questions:
- How does this role work with the rest of the team/organization?
- What do you most enjoy about working here? Conversely, what is the biggest challenge facing the company?
- What is the long-term vision for the company?
Leadership and culture questions:
- What are traits of the most successful managers in the company?
- Are there career pathways/professional development opportunities for employees?
- How does the company organize teams?
The way your potential employers answer these questions can provide invaluable insight to how they see your role, its place within the organization and how the company is managed. This information can help you make a confident decision about whether the role is right for you.
Looking for experienced marketing recruiters to meet your search, staffing and job search needs? We’re here to help!
- Contact us about your marketing search & staffing needs
- Search marketing, communications, and creative jobs
