Unique interview questions to ask an employer

Discover how to elevate your interview with unique questions for your potential employer, demonstrating your serious commitment and strategic thinking. Learn to ask insightful questions that reveal more about the role and company culture, ensuring it aligns with your career goals.

By Brad Nakase, Attorney

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Why Is It Important to Ask Your Employer Questions During the Interview?

Examples of Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Company

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Role

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Team

10 Tips for a Successful Interview

Introduction

One of the hardest questions in an interview is, “Do you have any questions?” It can be difficult to know what kind of questions will strengthen your candidacy. Logistical questions may inform your decision, but they don’t inform your interviewer’s decision. Unique interview questions can make you stand out from other candidates and show that you are serious about the job.

Unique interview questions to ask an employer should also help you get a better insight into what the job will be like. Consider asking questions about the company culture or what it takes to succeed in the role, so you know if the job is what you are looking for.

Let’s look at unique interview questions to ask an employer.

Why Is It Important to Ask Your Employer Questions During the Interview?

During the interview, potential employers will ask you questions to determine your experience, your personality, your work ethic, and how well you’ll fit into the company culture. You can demonstrate that well by answering the interview questions strategically. When you have the opportunity to ask questions of your employer, this is your chance to demonstrate your interest in the position.

For example, asking unique interview questions to an employer about opportunities for advancement will show that you are interested in staying at the company long-term. Asking unique interview questions to an employer about the company culture or the team you are going to work with shows that you are looking for a job that is a good fit (not just a paycheck). Asking unique interview questions to an employer about what success looks like in the role will show that you are hardworking and goal-oriented.

Thoughtful questions show that you are enthusiastic about the role and that you are seriously considering whether it is a good fit for your overall career aspirations. It also shows the interviewer that you take a collaborative approach to your work and, therefore, are more likely to be an active participant in meetings and projects.

Examples of Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer

Knowing the importance of asking questions in an interview doesn’t make it any easier to think of unique interview questions to ask. It can be difficult to think of questions that make you seem like a good candidate on the spot. Here are some examples of unique interview questions to ask an employer to help you prepare. Pick a few of each type of question so that you are prepared for your next interview.

Let’s dive into the unique interview questions.

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Company

Are there opportunities for progression within the company?
Are there opportunities to attend industry conferences?
Does the company do any outsourcing?
What targets or commitments does the company have for employee promotion?
What is the company’s approach to feedback and performance reviews?
How transparent is the decision-making in the company?
Are there opportunities for professional development in order to advance within the company?
What do you feel is the company’s greatest competitive advantage?
How is success defined at this company?
What are the values that best represent the company culture here?
What is the overall leadership style at this company?
Are remote working or flexible scheduling offered at this company?
How are budgets allocated at this company?
What are some of the highlights of the company’s 10-year plan?
Who does the company see as its closest competitors?

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Role

What are the tasks that define performance in this role?
How is success measured in this role?
How does this position fit into the business objectives of this company?
What are some of the challenges in this role?
What would it look like to be successful in my first three months in the role?
What goals would you like to see accomplished during the first three months in this position?
Which other departments and positions would I collaborate with in this role?
What are some things I can do in the first few months to set myself up for success?

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Team

What things do you believe make this company a good place to work?
What has your career progression been within the company?
How long do people in this team or department usually stay with the company?
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
What are the team’s current goals?
What areas for improvement are the team currently working on?
What kind of projects are the team currently working on?

Consider writing your own unique interview questions to ask an employer, too, so that they reflect what is important to you. Write a list of the things that you would want to know about a job to feel confident it is a job you’d enjoy. Then, write some unique interview questions that match that list. This will give you your very own list of unique interview questions to ask an employer.

10 Tips for a Successful Interview

In addition to preparing unique interview questions to ask an employer, there are a few things you can do to make your interview a successful one. The 10 tips below will help you show up confident and ready for your interview on the day so you can ask your unique interview questions.

Ask at least 3 unique interview questions – There is no right number of unique interview questions you should ask during an interview, but 3 is a good number to aim for. You can probably ask more if you have more questions; just consider how long the interview has been so far and if the interviewer looks like they’re in a hurry to leave.
Pick Interesting interview questions – Asking interesting or unique interview questions will help you to stand out in the mind of the interviewer. It will also show that you have given some thought to the position and that you are truly trying to imagine what it would be like to work at the company.
Don’t ask interview questions that have already been covered – Often, the interviewer will tell you a little bit about the role and company throughout the interview. Make sure you don’t ask a question that you should already know the answer to.
Be confident – Don’t be nervous about asking questions. Interviewers expect you to ask questions so you won’t be bothering them or dragging the interview out. In fact, interviewers actually like being asked questions because it means they’re not just talking the whole time. Ask your unique interview questions with confidence.
Tailor your unique interview questions to the interviewer – Consider the role and position of the interviewer when asking unique interview questions. This is why you should prepare a few in advance. Pick unique interview questions to ask an employer that the interviewer will be able to answer.
Practice the best way to ask your unique interview questions – Your unique interview questions to ask an employer should be clear so the interviewer can easily understand what you are asking. You should account for nerves in an interview situation that may muddle your question. Practice forming questions on the spot so it is easier to do so in the interview.
Ask open-ended interview questions – Closed questions can be answered with a yes or no. Open-ended questions invite more detail. The best unique interview questions to ask an employer are open-ended questions so you can get insight into the company. These types of questions will encourage further conversation, which gives you an opportunity to shine some more.
Close the interview strong – Once you have asked your unique interview questions and the interviewer has asked everything they need to ask, close the interview strong. Make sure you thank the interviewer and express that you are looking forward to hearing from them. If necessary, make sure the interviewer has your contact details. A good, unique interview question you can ask to bring the interview to a close is to ask about what the next steps are. The interviewer will then be able to tell you what the timeline is.
Consider the timing when discussing pay – Asking for higher pay does not fall under the category of unique interview questions to ask an employer. It is valid to talk about the pay for the job but consider when the best time is to raise that topic. The first interview may not be the right time, but the second interview might be a better time.
Practice with a friend – Get used to answering questions and thinking of unique interview questions to ask an employer by practising with a friend. This gives you a chance to practice thinking on the spot and identify areas you need to work on in a lower-pressure situation. Try to find a friend in a similar industry so they have some insider knowledge. It may also be helpful to give them a list of common interview questions to choose from so they can practice answering commonly asked interview questions.

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Unique interview questions to ask an employer

Introduction

Why Is It Important to Ask Your Employer Questions During the Interview?

Examples of Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Company

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Role

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer About the Team

10 Tips for a Successful Interview

What Is a Pay Stub and Why It Matters for Employees and Employers

What Are the Proper Steps to Fire Someone in California?

How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay on Your Record in California?

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What Is Involved in a PAGA Lawsuit?

What Are the Rules for 10-Minute Breaks?

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What Qualifies as a Hostile Work Environment in California?

When Is a Doctor’s Note for Work Required in California?

What Does California Law Say About Final Paycheck Rules?

Can an Employer Deny a Doctor’s Note?

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