8 Smart Questions to Ask Hiring Managers in a Job Interview

Before you start the interview, ask yourself these 8 intelligent questions to ask hiring managers. Avoid questions that are easy to find online, such as badmouthing or a performance evaluation.

You can also ask about your personality and how you handle a difficult situation. Hopefully, these questions will help you land the job of your dreams.

Avoid Question that Relates to Found info Easily

Asking the hiring manager about salary, sick days, and vacation days is an excellent way to ask for more details but avoid questions that relate to found information easily. This can seem arrogant and may reflect that you don’t do your research.

Another no-no is to ask about previous employers. Eighty-one percent of hiring managers reject candidates who badmouth a previous employer.

Avoid Question that Includes Badmouthing

When interviewing hiring managers, one of the most common mistakes is asking about previous employers. While you may be honest about your experiences working for those companies, badmouthing your former boss or company can raise questions in the minds of hiring managers. If your answer to the question reveals your past badmouthing behavior, your interviewer may wonder if you have a good character or work ethic.

A hiring manager becomes concerned when you start critiquing a previous employer. Hiring managers do not want to hire people who criticize their previous employers. This shows a lack of judgment and is a sure way to be rejected. So, when interviewing hiring managers, don’t include any questions involving badmouthing. Instead, keep the interviewing process positive by avoiding questions about your past employment.

Avoid Question that Includes Lousy Performance Evaluation

When asking an interviewee about their performance, avoid questions involving a bad performance evaluation. Employees hate receiving inadequate performance evaluations. Try to avoid making the interviewee feel hopeless or like a poor performer.

Instead, ask about the expectations of the position, performance evaluations, growth opportunities, promotions, and rewards for good performance. The interviewee may be scared of these questions, but there is nothing to worry about.

Most managers ask their employees about their most significant achievements. Don’t assume the interviewer will remember every project or individual involvement. Instead, provide context by saying, “I was part of a team that worked on a new line of activity books for children.”

What is the company culture ?

How would you describe the person who will be my boss?
What is your approach to teamwork?
How do you define leadership?

How much time will I have with the team, on an average day of work?
What types of decisions does this position entail, and how can I prepare for them?
When was the last time a new hire was made to fill this role and what did they learn in their first few months that had a significant impact on the company’s success?