Stapleton suggests the following as potential questions you could ask at the end of a job interview, and why they’re good ideas:

1. “What are the circumstances that have led up to this position becoming available?”

It can be helpful to understand if someone is leaving, and why. Or if it’s a new role, how has it come about?

2. “How do you see the person in this role progressing and growing over the next few years?”

This can give you a good insight into the company’s approach to the growth and development of its employees.

3. “How would you describe the culture and working environment in this team, and the company more widely?”

This is useful to ask to understand a bit more about the work/life balance you might expect from working there, and what the dynamics between colleagues are like.

4. “What do you enjoy and not enjoy about working here?”

This one is a great opportunity to get a personal perspective of what it’s like to work for the company… although they may not always be completely honest.

5. “What would I need to do in order to exceed your expectations in this role in the first three months?”

This shows you’re eager to contribute, and it can give you a good sense of what to focus on in the first few months of the role, and what they would expect of you in it. It may also set off alarm bells if the expectations sound completely unrealistic.

6. “Where do you see this company headed in the next five years?”

This is a pretty standard question, but helpful to know. You don’t want them going under soon after you start!

These are the questions you should ask in a job interview