With graduation coming up and summer internships positions opening, it’s on a lot of student’s minds how to best navigate the interview process. Interviews allow a company to learn more about you, and they also allow you to learn more about the company and the role you’re excited about. In an interview, it’s easy to only worry about impressing the employer, but you also need to discover more about the company to see if it would be a good fit. Asking questions during an interview shows that you care and gives you a better insight into the company. Here is a breakdown of questions that should be asked during an interview:

1. Professional Development
   • When you graduate college, you can’t expect to work in the same position for the rest of your life. You need to make sure that there are constant learning opportunities early on in your working career, and these questions allow the company to expand on this. Asking these questions will help you stand out, as employers want someone eager to learn. 
   • How does the company support employee growth and learning?
   • Are there opportunities for further training and mentorship?

2. Defining and Measuring Success
   • Learning the standard at a company before coming in gives you a huge leg up. Asking these questions in an interview also gives you a better idea of what kind of candidate a company is looking for: What does it mean to do well, and what will you need to achieve for the manager to be happy with your performance?
   • What metrics or outcomes does the company use?
   • How often are performance reviews conducted?

3. Company Culture
   • These questions give you more insight into the people you will work with. It’s important to like the team of people you work with since you will be collaborating with them every day. This will also give you a better idea of how the company handles work-life balance. 
   • How would you describe the work environment here?
   • What qualities do successful employees share in this company?

4. Values and Mission of a Company
   • If the mission and values of a company resonate with you, you will feel more motivated and fulfilled. When asking about the values and mission of a company, make sure to do your research beforehand to learn about what they are. You can then base the questions on certain examples. This will also show the employer that you did research on the company and came prepared.
   • Can you provide examples of how the company uses its values in day-to-day operations?
   • How do these values shape decision-making and company goals?

Example using St. Kate’s mission and values:

• What specific classes align with the mission statement of educating women to lead and influence?

5. Next Steps
   • This gives you a timeline of when to expect to hear back from the company, and it shows that you are interested.
   • When can I expect to hear feedback?
   • When is the next round of interviews?

Interviews are a two-way street not only is the company interviewing you, but also you interviewing the company. Asking these questions will help you assess whether the company aligns with your professional goals, while also demonstrating your genuine interest and setting you apart from other candidates. Come to the interview with these questions prepared and write them down in your notebook so you can easily reference them. Here in the Career Development office we offer Mock Interviews to hone in on your interviewing skills. You also get feedback from a career coach and they can help with questions like these! Don’t forget to also check out our KCVC website where you can find great resources regarding interviewing. Best of luck with your future interviews!