Career Advice: Top Questions to Ask

When trying to find the perfect career or interviewing for a new job, there are questions any candidate should and must ask. A company is just as lucky to have a new candidate working for it, just as a candidate is lucky to be offered a job from that company. This article will offer the top questions any job candidate should ask before taking on the job.

1. What Are My Responsibilities?

Knowing the answer to this question is crucial. Sometimes, people are excited for a job because they assume their responsibilities will be a lot different than the reality. In addition, understanding one's responsibilities may help one determine how much time will be spent in the office. Jobs at particular places, such as large law firms, expect that lawyers will work overtime in the office.

2. Does Your Company Offer Student Loan Repayment Programs?

Many companies offer student loan repayment programs as an incentive to recruit new college graduates. Any competitive company will offer a nice student loan reimbursement program for university graduates. Often, these programs can be a great aid in helping students to eliminate debt and earn a salary at the same time. Figuring out the answer to this question is critical before accepting a job of any sort.

3. What Is the Outlook for this Company?

Any manager or top recruiter should be able to offer a solid vision of what the company wants to accomplish in upcoming years. Seeing where a company is headed is wise for numerous reasons. First, it assures a new job candidate that the company is not headed for bankruptcy. Second, one can get a sense of the type of leadership in charge of the company.

4. Is Salary for this Position Competitive with Similar Positions at Other Companies?

Some people feel awkward or shy to ask this question. However, companies fully expect that job candidates will inquire about salary. Asking this question shows a job candidate has initiative, ambition, and values his or her skills. One should not feel intimidated to ask this question at a job interview.

5. Is there Room for Advancement in this Particular Job?

Another question that should always be asked during an interview is regarding the possibility of promotion within a career. If there is no possibility for promotion within a career, then a person may be wasting his or her talents working at a particular company. On the other hand, if there is plenty of room for advancement in a particular job, then a job candidate will have the opportunity to earn a better salary in years to come. This is one of the most important questions to ask an employer during a job interview.