Ask Gill Career Advice

Q. I am currently preparing for a first interview for a marketing executive role. I have prepared for the types of questions I expect to be asked, but what should I be asking them?

A. Congratulations on securing an interview, this is a great achievement in the current competitive climate.  We all know preparing for any interview, be it your first or final, is important and it requires quite a bit of time and dedication. In your haste to learn about the firm and thinking about relevant examples that demonstrate your skills and experience, it is also important to give some time to considering what you might ask them.

Asking questions provides you with an opportunity to find out more about the firm and its culture, as well as more detail about the role and their expectations of the incumbent at different time periods, e.g. key objectives for the first 3, 6 and 12 months. It also allows you to ask about priorities and the challenges facing the role. Importantly, you can also use your questions to highlight what you can bring to the role, for example, if you have great online skills, ask how much time the role will focus on the web because IT experience is something you can offer.

Remember, there are lots of good questions to ask but they should demonstrate that you have put some thought into them.    

For more information about this subject, visit the Careers Toolkit section on our website to read more interview tips and how best to prepare. Good luck!