9 Things You Can't Be Afraid to Ask in Your Dream Job Interview

Are you ready for the career you’ve always wanted?

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Speak Up - Your dream job — it has been on your vision board for the last three years, and now you are just days away from the big interview. You’re a pro at all the typical interview questions, but the people who really stand out are the ones who come equipped with a few inquiries of their own. Here, the questions you should be prepared to ask when you interview for the job you’ve always wanted.(Photo: Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Speak Up

What is a typical day (or week) for the person in this role?  - What is a typical day (or week) for the person in this role? This question is good for getting an idea of how much of your time will be spent on the various tasks listed in the job description. How much will you be expected to travel? How many meetings will you run each week? Will you be chained to your desk until 7:30 p.m. every night?(Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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What is a typical day (or week) for the person in this role? 

Photo By Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis

What does success look like in this position? - This is a biggie, as it lets you know what you will be judged on if you are hired. You’ll never get ahead if you think being a team player is the way to land yourself in the corner office, when your boss is really looking for you to bring in new clients on a regular basis.(Photo: Jon Feingersh Photography Inc./Blend Images/Corbis)

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What does success look like in this position?

What is the most important quality you’re looking for in the person you hire? - Lists of required skills are good for job descriptions, but this question will provide real insight into what the hiring manager is looking for. Does she want someone who can multi-task? Whose mind is open and schedule is uber-flexible? Someone who has demonstrated management skills and can take on a team right out the gate? Use this info to know what you need to highlight in your own work history as you move forward through the hiring process. (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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What is the most important quality you’re looking for in the person you hire?

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What is the typical progression within the company for the person in this position? - If you plan to stick around for a while, it’s key to see how others have fared before you. Did the last person to hold your coveted position join a leadership development program and move up the ladder after two years? Or did she resign and move to the competitor to secure a deserved boost in pay?(Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Blend Images/Corbis)

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What is the typical progression within the company for the person in this position?

What does retention look like here? - Company wide, how many folks are sticking around? If there is high turnover, there is likely something about the culture of the company that does not lend itself to upward mobility or even loyalty. On the flip side, if no one ever leaves, will there ever be vacancies for you to fill up the chain of command?(Photo: Cadalpe/Image Source/Corbis)

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What does retention look like here?

How would you describe the company culture? - Ask this to hear more about what it’s like to work for the company each day. Is it a creative environment with collaborative spaces that push you to interact with coworkers? A corporate caldron of high-stress meetings and long work hours? You’ll never know if you don’t ask — and be sure to ask a few employees (and ex-employees), too. LinkedIn is your friend here.(Photo: Tom Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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How would you describe the company culture?

What is your system for collecting employee feedback? - This question is great because it lets you know if the company even cares about gathering feedback from employees. From 360° evaluations to anonymous email systems for reporting complaints, if there is no mechanism in place, that’s a good indicator that they don’t actually care. (Photo: Hero Images Inc./Corbis)

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What is your system for collecting employee feedback?

What do you like best about working here? - Getting your interviewer to talk about herself is a good way to get her to stray from the corporate line and provide a sneak peek into what it’s truly like to work for your dream company. Listen for key phrases like “flexible schedules” and “whatever it takes” to see what she values and how it aligns with what the company expects. (Photo: Eric Audras/Onoky/Corbis)

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What do you like best about working here?

What are the next steps in this hiring process? - Never leave without finding out what will happen next. You should know if there is another round of interviews to ace and when they are hoping to schedule them, or if they plan to make a decision within the next week. That way, you know when it’s appropriate to follow up. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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What are the next steps in this hiring process?