7 Questions You Should Ask Employers Before Accepting A Job

Three rules of thumb that every job seeker should know are:
1) Have something to ask for the interviewer
2) Be prepared for 'tough' questions like 'Where do you see yourself in five years' time?' and 'What are you strengths and weaknesses?'
3) Ask the interviewer questions through every step of the hiring process.

Muovo has found the following incisive questions from Career Builder and would like to share them with you:

When you receive the first call before the in-person interview:
1) Whom will I be interviewing with?
It is always helpful to know the name of your interviewer. You can look up the interviewer on the company's website (and perhaps on other social networks) to get an idea of who the person is and to prepare yourself well with some insightful questions. Of course, this also comes in handy when you are faced with the receptionist asking you about your interviewer.

2) Could you tell me more about the opportunity?
Nobody wants to waste time going for an interview only to find out that the vacancy on offer is not something you would be ever interested in. Ask your interviewer or the person who has called you  to brief you in on the job post on offer.

During the interview:
3) What are your short- and long-term goals?
Employers will probably ask about your career goals, but you should ask them what they want the person in this position to achieve. This will help you both to find out whether you are on the same wavelength and, really, whether you are on the right track. And of course, you want to know that they have a purpose for this position and aren’t just looking for a temporary solution.

4) Who are the primary people I’ll be working with on a daily basis?
Where does this role fit in the overall structure of the team and the business? Will you interact with people who can help your career? Will you spend most of your days in silence, typing on a computer? All that matters is that you receive an answer that appeals to you. This can also be the right time for you to ask whether the company offers training programs. Read Good Training and Your Success article.

5) What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the person taking this role?
No position is perfect. In fact, some jobs are created to address a problem that needs to be solved. That could very well be what attracted you to the job. An honest employer will tell you what struggles lie ahead. That’s your opportunity to turn the answer around as a challenge you’re happy to accept and present some ideas of how you would tackle the obstacles. If the employer makes it sound too good to be true, it probably is.

6) Do you have any doubts about my fit for the position? 
If you see that the interviewer is still rather uncertain with how your interview went, this is your time to 'save yourself'. Some interviewers might ask you direct questions and say what they're struggling with as regards your interview, others however might not. This is where you might have to prompt them to tell you what their concerns are. Now is the only chance you have to clarify anything, so make sure you leave no question unanswered.

After the interview:
7)  Have you made a decision? (If the given deadline has passed)
If the hiring manager says it will be a week before you hear back and after two weeks you still haven't heard anything, then it would be wise to follow up to see if a decision has been made. This being said, don't pester her or him or show up at the office — that won’t win you any brownie points. A quick email to ask how the process is going is more than sufficient.

Related articles from this blog:
Good Training and Your Career Success
A Job Seeker's Guide to Employment
Are You Prepared For Your Interview?
How to Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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