Intelligent Interview Questions to ask the employer

It's important to prepare a list of interview questions to ask the employer.

The job interview is as much a fact-finding opportunity for you as it is for the employer. Asking questions will not only impress the boss, it will equip you with the facts you need to make an informed decision abut your professional future.

You will be offered the opportunity to ask questions, usually at the end of the interview. Use this opportunity to demonstrate that you are being diligent in your career pursuits. Just be sure that you don't ask something that was discussed and answered during the interview.A few examples to get you started:

What is the history of the role? A new job being created in the company indicates growth. It also means the job description may not be thoroughly written yet which can create an opportunity for you to help define the role if you get the job. On the other hand, if it is an existing role, it may be interesting to know why the person is leaving.

What is the potential for advancement in this company? If you're ambitious and hope to advance, this is an important question.

Who does this position report to? Is it an individual or a board of directors? Having a boss that is in the same office every day is quite different from reporting to a committee with whom you only meet on monthly basis.

How will the orientation or training period be structured? Some employers take new employees through a comprehensive training program, while others prefer a hit-the-ground-running approach, dropping a new employee into a sink or swim environment.

What will the benchmarks be in the first six months of employment? The first year? Know your employer’s expectations going in.

What is the company’s history? You want to get an idea of how well established this organization is, how long they have been in business, and what their reputation is.

What is the turn-over ratio? Be weary of the “revolving door” syndrome. If employees are frequently leaving or being replaced, there are probably very good reasons.

Is there an established method for trading information and ideas within the company? Some companies have open door policies wherein you can bounce ideas and information randomly, whereas other organizations have a specific structure of regularly scheduled meetings for things like brainstorming.

How will your performance be evaluated? Depending on the nature of the job, you may have targets to meet, or you may be required to submit daily or weekly progress reports. It is important to know that you will be evaluated based on the skills you feel are relevant in the role.