In your eagerness to impress don’t forget that the interview is a two way process. Whilst the employer will want to find out as much about you as possible to ensure you are right for the role, you should be doing the same to them.

This starts with your preparation for the interview. Do your research, online with google, as well as with people who know employees at the company or have worked there previously.  Find out as much as you can about the working environment, benefits, career progression and stability of the company. And if you uncover anything that gives you cause for concern prepare a question that you can ask at the interview.

The interviewer will almost certainly ask at some point in the process if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to find out if this company and this role are right for you.  You may desperately want a job but if you settle for one where you know you won’t be happy or fulfilled the chances are you will soon be looking for a new role, and it will not do your CV any good to be seen to be changing job too frequently. Always have something to ask, even if you feel they have covered everything ask them to expand or clarify a point. This shows you have listened and thought about the process in advance, and is much more professional than a lame “no I don’t think so”.

It is perfectly reasonable to ask why the last person who did this role left and what the career path is. Don’t be afraid to raise tricky issues like how the company is managing in the current climate, or about the management style of your potential boss. The company should be selling the benefits of working there, but if you think they are trying to sell too hard this should raise a red flag as well.

Be prepared and make sure you get answers to all your questions, if the interviewer doesn’t offer you the opportunity to ask questions, say something like “I have a few questions I would like to ask about the role”. If they don’t give you this opportunity, that should tell you something about what it would be like to work there!