When you sit through enough job interviews, you start to realise what separates the successful ones from the not-so-great ones. Namely, productive conversation. After all, you’re there to ask questions as well as answer them, and doing so is a great way to showcase your confidence, intelligence and enthusiasm for the role.

1. What are some of the challenges of this role?

A nice, straightforward one to begin with, this question shows that you’re already thinking ahead. The answer should give you more of an idea of what to expect should you get the job, and will help you decide if the position really is right for you.

2. Does your company offer continued education and training?

The desire for continued development is very attractive in a prospective employee as it shows a real thirst for knowledge. It will demonstrate just how committed you are to being the best teacher/secretary/project manager/astronaut you can be.

3. Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with/what’s your culture like?

It always pays to find out what you can about your future colleagues. This question has another benefit, though – the wording here is very important, so don’t overlook it. As you can see, the question assumes you’ll be accepted as part of their team. If you think that way, your prospective employers will as well.

4. What does a typical day in this role look like?

Getting grilled under the piercing gaze of a potential new boss is incredibly stressful, so shifting the focus onto them for a bit can offer you some much-needed relief. As well as gleaning some valuable info, you may be able to use the depth and willingness of the response to gauge their opinion of your performance thus far. 

5. What does success look like in this role? How is it measured?

It generally helps to know what’s expected of you, so this one is very important. Going for the job is all well and good, but you need to be absolutely certain of your ability to meet whatever challenges it might throw your way.

6. Where do you see this position/company/department in 3 years?

We’ve already mentioned thinking ahead, but thinking three years ahead is something else entirely. This question allows you to highlight your own ambition without the risk of appearing arrogant or obnoxious, and has the added bonus of revealing the company’s own ambitions, too.

7. What do you enjoy about working here?

It’s easy to forget sometimes, but job interviewers are people too. Engaging them on a basic human level can do wonders for your chances, especially if you’re smart about it. Asking what they like about the job is a great way to connect whilst remaining on topic, and can reveal a lot about the general atmosphere and levels of workplace happiness.

Good luck with your next interview (not that you’ll need it now). Don’t forget, you can also enlist the services of recruiters and employment agencies to help you get your foot in the door.