10 Essential Questions You’re Forgetting to Ask When Scheduling an Interview
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Scheduling an interview is a huge deal for every job seeker. However, due to that excitement, it can be very easy to forget what to ask when scheduling and how to approach that process. Thankfully, we have a list with some tips and tricks that will help make the process easier. 

While you can expect interviewers to ask you questions, you also want to ask your own questions as well. Most interviewers appreciate that, and it also shows you did your homework. On top of that, it’s a lot easier for you to see if you’re a good fit when you have your own interviews. Doing that can help quite a bit, and it will improve your experience.

1. Where will the interview take place?

It’s imperative to know more about the interview’s location and where you need to go. Some interviews are taking place online these days. If that’s the situation at hand, you want to know more about the tools used and ensure everything is working smoothly. Acquiring as many details as possible will help prevent any technological issues. You’ll also find yourself having a much better experience overall, which always helps.

2. Who are you meeting with?

If you know who you are meeting with, that will give you time to do some research and see what kind of questions they might ask. Having that information certainly helps, and it will give you the extra edge that you are looking for. Not only that, but it helps you focus on specific things that the interviewer might focus on, while also finding ways to show your expertise.

Another benefit here is that you will have more of an insight into the company culture. You will know more about the type of people working there and how interviews take place. Plus, you get to learn about the person interviewing you, which is always helpful.

3. Does the company have a specific dress code?

When you go to the interview, you want to fit in. The last thing you want is to wear something that doesn’t feel appropriate. Making sure that you have a great set of clothes that allow you to dress appropriately for the interview can help a lot. 

You don’t want to overdress, but at the same time under-dressing can be an issue. That’s why you need to know more about the company’s approach to attire and what their overall culture is. A dress code can say quite a lot about these things.

4. Are there different times you can choose to schedule for?

Every job seeker usually has a lot of interviews lined up as they try to find the perfect job for them. That also means it’s a good idea to ask what times are available for scheduling. Maybe their random scheduling time might not appeal to you or fit your schedule, so asking is always going to help. Also, too early in the morning is not ideal, nor is it to meet late in the afternoon. Try to find an appropriate time that’s not extremely close to lunch time either. 

5. Do you have multiple open positions?

It’s a question a lot of people sleep on. They just focus on a single job without realizing that there might be multiple job openings they fit for. In this case, the best approach is to just ask if there are multiple openings. If there are, you might have an interview for 2 different jobs instead of one. It’s a great trick and one of those ideas that can help more than expected.

6. Is there a scheduled ending time for the interview?

Some companies allocate a specific amount of time per interview. The reason you want to know whether there’s an ending time scheduled or not always comes down to how you prepare for the interview. If the interview gives you just a little bit of time, you want to fully prepare for it.

That means figuring out how to make the most out of every minute. Showcasing your achievements is a great idea, and you also want to have enough time to ask any questions you might have too.

7. Does the interview contain a skills test?

It’s a good idea to know what you are getting into. Some companies will have random skill tests specifically focused to help them narrow down potential employees with great accuracy. Knowing this is coming is a huge deal, because you can prepare for the skills test. 

There are candidates that won’t fare well in the case of an impromptu skill test, even if they have the right qualification. Preparing beforehand will also give you the right mindset and prevent any possible problems that can sometimes arise.

8. Should I bring anything aside from my resume?

You’ll notice some companies will actually encourage you to bring additional items aside from the resume. Some want to see a sample of your work, others will be fine just with the resume. It’s one of the questions that you should consider asking, because you never really know what to expect. If anything, it will help you save time, while having a better understanding of the process.

9. Do you have a certain interview format?

Knowing the answer to this question matters quite a bit, since there will be companies that request a certain format. That’s not always the case, but some of them do, and you have to understand that. It never hurts to know what format you are dealing with and figure out a way to prepare for such a thing beforehand.

For example, there are companies that prefer to have a group interview format. On top of that, they also use a panel interview system. But there will also be interviewers that much prefer a one on one meeting. So it helps to ask this, because you will already know what type of interview they focus on, and thus you can adjust your preparation to that particular style.

10. Does your company have remote work plans?

It’s a great idea to know whether you have the possibility of remote work or not. That’s the thing, some companies are very open to this, while others will not agree to remote work. The main focus in your situation is to take your time and see what kind of remote work plans and features they have in mind.

Once you do that, it becomes much easier to prepare for the interview accordingly. Maybe asking such a question during an interview is not appropriate, so knowing beforehand can help. Yes, some companies will list this on their website or even in the job listing, but if they don’t, then you do want to ask such a question.

Conclusion

We believe that asking some questions when scheduling the interview is a very good idea. Not only do you get to know more about the company, its culture and how they manage interviews, but some of these questions can even help you stand out. Plus, you will have a much better way to prepare knowing where the interview takes place, the dress code, if you are pressed for time and so on. That’s why we highly recommend using these tips and ideas, as they will help provide a smoother interviewing experience!

Piotr Gacon
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