The questions to ask at an interview for a technical position
As a candidate, at one point during the introductory call or the technical interview, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions related to the role, the company, culture and everything else that comes to mind. It's good to prepare for it, the right questions will give you valuable answers which can determine if it's the right place for you. In this article, you will learn about the best questions that you can ask.
How to ask the right question
It's important to remember that it's not only about the question itself, but also the way you ask it. Usually, it happens with a nice attitude, but sometimes people can get carried away, so it's important to always stay professional. Don't be rude and ask about things that matter. If you don't understand a question, tell the recruiter; if the call gets interrupted, say that. It's better to ask than to guess what the question was about.
The best questions:
1. What are the main responsibilities?
Try to ask about the main tasks of your future colleagues and it will help you understand if it's a place for you or not. You should also try asking how much time people usually spend on it, it can give you an idea like some people are more active than others. It is also good to know what their day-to-day looks like if they have daily stand-ups, meetings, etc.
2. What do you look for in employees?
Find it out and it will help you with the interview. You can ask what they are looking for in a candidate, it's always good to know how much work you have ahead of you if it is by demonstrating your skills or something else.
3. What is the company culture like?
You should be cautious about this question because it might not seem as important but it really matters when people work together. Find out what kind of company values exist and find out how their employees feel about it too! If there isn't anything special, then that means it's just regular, which can be a good place too.
4. Where do I start my career path?
It's great if an employer wants to train new hires so go see if they have any training programs at the moment. Some companies might have it on their website and it's also a good idea to talk with someone in HR or your potential boss! Besides training, you can also ask about the type of contract offered and other formalities.
5. What is an average day like?
Do they work from home, are there water-cooler moments, do people have a "fun" day, do they go out for parties? Make sure it fits what you're looking for so there isn't anything too big of a difference between this company and others that interest you.
6. How many employees are here (current)?
Find out how busy it is before accepting an offer because it can be really hard to keep up if there are tons of people who need help with something. It doesn't mean it's bad but it could take some time to learn all the new names. It will also give you a sense of how the company looks inside. Thanks to the answer you will learn if the company is constantly growing and if you can grow with it.
7. What does success look like?
What will it take for me to succeed in this position? This is an important question because if there isn't anything specific or concrete listed on their website or during your interview then it might mean they don't know how to answer it. It's good to ask because maybe you will be the one that will create goals for other team members.
8. How often do people get promoted?
If it seems like promotions happen once every five years, maybe a different job would suit better with your career path rather than waiting so long. It's good to ask about the career path in this company, it can be a great place to advance from a Senior to a Leader.
9. What are the opportunities for career development?
How would it benefit me to work here? Or, how will it help them to have you on their team at this position? It's all about your development, both professionally and as a person. Look for a place where you can grow and achieve your goals!
10. Is this a new role that has been created?
If it is, it's important to know the size of this role and how it fits in with those around you. A new role can mean that the whole team will develop further and you can become a team leader in a matter of months.
11. What are your expectations for my performance?
This one is super crucial! You have to find a common ground and set goals between what they expect from you at work and what you're capable of doing. If you're in it for the long haul, it's better to have realistic goals that will make both of you happy.
12. Who will I be working most closely with?
You have to ask this question to figure out how often you will interact with your colleagues and your manager. It is also a good way to find out what it's like to work for the company, if the manager is participating in the interview that's a good sign.
13. Is there anything that makes you question whether I am a good fit?
This is a very important question because it will help you figure out if the recruiter is already thinking about hiring you. Based on the answer you can talk a bit more about your experience or mention where you got certified etc.
14. How will I be trained?
Some companies may offer extensive training and some might not have any at all. If you are starting a completely new position, you HAVE TO ask this question. We can't expect that a marketer will be a great junior developer, it's important to know if the company will support you once you start.
15. What is the typical review frequency?
Work reviews are based on the company policy, sometimes it happens every year, other times every 3 or 6 months. You can ask this question to see how it aligns with your expectations and evaluate if it's a good fit for you.
16. What is the company’s policy regarding remote work?
This question may seem irrelevant to some technical positions, but it can be very relevant in other cases: software development, project management or IT consulting are just some examples of industries where remote work has become normal.
17. How will my performance be measured?
It can be that your performance will be measured on the grounds of your responsibilities, it's important to know what is expected from you in order to do it well. Based on your role you can be also measured on metrics like leads, sales or revenue.
18. I’ve read about the origins of the company, can you tell me more about it?
It's a nice question that can put a smile on the recruiter's face. You should always be interested in knowing more about the company before accepting an offer. It can be that the story will be the thing that will convince you to join them.
19. What are the current goals of the company?
The company's goals will be the thing that it decides to make its priorities and it can also help you understand what type of work environment it provides. What are they looking for? It could be a question of focus, or it could be about future plans.
20. Can you describe the team that's working on the project?
You should know who you will work with, after all you will spend a lot of time with the team members. The recruiters will tell you the truth, it’s important for them that you stay with the company for a long time.
21. Can you tell me about the last team event?
Team integration is an important part of work, it can be fun and stay in the memories for years! In a fast-paced environment, it can be very important to have this time for communication with colleagues. And it is also good for team morale, which is another thing that affects productivity and performance.
22. How has the company changed since you joined?
The answer to this question (if it's a recruiter that has been longer with the company) can give you a good sense of how the company develops over the years. It may be that they were a "senior" company, but now they also hire younger people who are eager to develop themselves in the IT industry.
23. How are you different from your competitors?
This question can be a two-way street. You might want to find out if it's worth it for you to work with this company, but it may also give the employer an idea of whether they are even in competition with other companies or not. Sometimes it's good to be like the competitors, but only if the competitors are known for their company culture.
24. What are the next steps in the interview process?
This is a very important question, it will tell you whether or not they're going to call back. Some processes are longer, others are pretty short and can be done in a matter of days. You should ask this question or check the "careers page" to learn what the interview process looks like.
25. Is there anything else you'd like to know about me?
This is a great way to find out about something that you may not have thought of. The interviewer might be looking for someone who has specific skills, or it could just be their personality and work style they're after. Even something like the time management tool that they use.
26. Can I answer any other questions for you?
This is a good way to gauge the interviewer's interest in you. If it seems like they're going through the motions, it might be because your skillset doesn't fit their company or position. It's one of those questions that can be difficult to answer if it's an email interview, but those are very rare in the IT industry.
Conclusion
It's important to answer the questions of the interviewer, but it's not only about their questions. You can and should ask them too! It's your life and your career, you have to make sure that the company that you are applying to will be a place where you can grow. Pick a few of the questions that we listed in this article before your interview and write them down so you can ask them when the right time comes.
To find our current opening visit: https://www.maximaconsulting.com/careers/jobs
