One of the most important things to remember when headed to an interview is to bring a list of questions with you!  It is a good idea to prepare this list ahead of time so you don’t forget any of the questions you wanted to ask.  Jamie Scott, a social media advocate at CreditDonkey, is going to help us prepare that list with the 5 questions you need to ask during an interview.  Good luck on your interview! 

5 Post-Interview Questions to Ask Prospective Employers

It can be difficult to know exactly which questions to ask during or after an interview. Often, we spend time preparing for job interviews by considering the questions that the potential employer may ask about us. We write out and edit the responses we would make to those questions so we can give the best possible response.

Then, we examine our wardrobe to find the perfect outfit to match the hopeful job. And, if we’ve never been to the location before, we may even do a test drive to ensure we give ourselves ample time to get to the interview early.

Unfortunately, one task that many of us forget to do when preparing for an interview is to consider the post-interview questions we want to ask our potential employer. After all, the interview is as much for us to feel out the position and company as it is for the employer to determine if we match their idea of an ideal candidate!

Here are a few interview questions to ask during a job interview:

What is the organizational structure of the company?

If you are looking for a company that you can work for long-term, the answer to this question can be quite important. By knowing the structure of the organization, you will be able to determine whether there is room for advancement.  If you discover from the interview that most of the employees report directly to the CEO or a Vice President, than the chances of promotion are likely to be slim. However, if you find there is a structured chain of command, making it so there are several positions between yours and the executive team, this is a better indicator that there will be room to grow.Once you receive a response to this question, you may want to follow up with a statement that includes your observations so you can receive confirmation of your assumptions.

Will this position require travel? If so, how are travel arrangements and expenses handled?

It seems the people either love or hate travel, making it an aspect of a job that could be a deal breaker or a deal sealer. If you are uncertain whether travel will be an aspect of the potential job, it’s wise to ask the employer about this possibility during the interview process. This is especially true when interviewing for a company that has several locations, clients in various locations, or one that participates in conferences and trade shows.  When asking about travel, you will also want to know how travel arrangements and expenses are handled. Are you going to be the person booking your travel? Are there specific airlines and hotels that you are expected to use? And, are you going to have to use your own credit card and file for reimbursement?

This question is especially important, as business travel expenses can add up quickly and you do not want your credit limit tied up with outstanding expenses that you are still waiting for reimbursement. If you learn that you will be responsible for the initial expenses, you may want to get a separate travel credit card that you only use for business expenses. This will ensure you still have the ability to use your regular card for your regular purchases. It will also make it easier to identify the purchases that need to be reimbursed.

What type of development opportunities are provided to employees?

This is one of the best post-interview questions because you can ask any employer regardless of the industry and it shows you are in for the long haul.

Many companies have an annual budget for employee development. This money is set aside for employees to go to conferences, seminars and even to use toward college degrees. Having a formal employee development policy is an indicator that a company values its employees and wants to do what it can to help its employees grow.

If the potential employer does provide employees with the opportunity to grow their skills through tuition assistance, you will want to ask how the tuition assistance program works. Will you be expected to commit a specific number of years to the company?

What other positions are within the department and what are their roles?

Knowing the exact structure of the department that the potential position is a part of will help you better understand the role within the company. If the department consists of just two positions, then you may take on a much greater role than the title would otherwise indicate!  Once you understand the structure of the department, you may also want to ask how departmental purchases are handled.

Does each employee purchase the items they need to complete their job or is there one person who makes all of the purchases? Is there a departmental credit card or account that is used for these purchases? Or, will you need to fill out reimbursement forms? Again, just like with travel, these purchases can add up, so you will want to be careful if you have to use your personal credit card for business purchases.

Is this a new position or am I replacing a current employee? What is the turnover rate for this department?

It is important to understand why the position has become available. If it is a brand new position, that means that the company is growing, which is a good thing. However, it also means that you may need to help shape your role in the company and help others understand how you fit.  If you are replacing a current employee, you will want to know how long that employee has been in the position. If they have been in the position for years, it may mean that it will be time to revamp the processes they have been using. If they were in the position for a very short amount of time, it could be a red flag that there

If they have been in the position for years, it may mean that it will be time to revamp the processes they have been using. If they were in the position for a very short amount of time, it could be a red flag that there are some personality conflicts in the department.

Readers, what other post-interview questions have you asked following an interview? Share your thoughts in the comments section!