You’re in a strange conference room with fluorescent lights and across from the person whose decision could make or break your job search. You’re trying very hard to remember the perfect story you wrote and wondering if the AC is always set to “arctic blast.” You could be at home, looking at your interviewer on a computer screen in front of the most professional wall in your apartment. You’re hoping your camera won’t move and show the stack of empty La Croix cans you forgot to move before the Zoom call started.
Use The Muse to find a job at a company with a culture you love. Select the career path that aligns with you:
Then the hiring manager asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” This is the question that you know means the interview is almost over.
Do not think that employers have too much power in the job interview. It is not just a chance for the hiring manager to question you. It is also your chance to find out if the job would be a good fit for you and the employer. So it’s vital to ask some questions of your own. So, what do you want to know about the job? The company? The department? The team? The person who is interviewing you, who could be your boss, coworker, or coffee buddy in the middle of the afternoon?
To get you thinking, we’ve put together a list of the best questions to ask in an interview. We definitely don’t think you should ask all of them at once. Some of them will be covered during the conversation, and you’ll have specific questions about each job or workplace.
AHEAD is a leading enterprise technology and cloud solutions company that helps organizations unlock the power of technology. With expertise across industries, AHEAD provides innovative strategies and solutions that pave the path to transformation.
Landing a job at AHEAD means you need to showcase your technical skills as well as your strategic thinking abilities. Expect questions that test your problem-solving stakeholder management and leadership competencies.
I have compiled this guide to help you ace your AHEAD interview. Let’s explore the top 10 questions with tips on how to craft winning responses.
1. Why do you want to work at AHEAD?
This question evaluates your motivations for pursuing a career at AHEAD The interviewer wants to understand what attracts you to the company and role,
Tips for answering:
-
Demonstrate your knowledge of AHEAD’s mission, values, and culture Mention how these align with your own
-
Highlight AHEAD’s reputation as an innovator and leader in digital transformation and cloud solutions. Convey your passion for staying at the forefront of technological change.
-
Provide specific examples of AHEAD projects or solutions that inspire you. Show genuine interest and enthusiasm.
-
Discuss how AHEAD’s commitment to community and diversity appeals to you.
-
Explain how the role you are applying for matches your skills, experience, and career goals.
Example response: “I am excited by AHEAD’s mission to be pioneers of change, helping organizations navigate their digital journeys. Having led cloud migration initiatives in my past roles, I am drawn to AHEAD’s expertise in cloud and emerging technologies. I am also inspired by the company’s inclusive, people-first culture. This opportunity closely aligns with my skills in stakeholder engagement and my passion for driving digital transformation. Working at AHEAD would allow me to collaborate with some of the sharpest minds in the industry on innovative projects. Overall, the company’s bold vision for the future of technology resonates with my own values and aspirations.”
2. How do you stay up-to-date on technology trends and innovations in this industry?
AHEAD seeks candidates who are passionate about learning and expanding their technical knowledge. This question evaluates your dedication to continuous skill development.
Tips for answering:
-
Demonstrate proactive efforts to expand your skillset, such as certifications, courses, conferences, or independent learning.
-
Discuss resources and communities you actively engage with to foster learning, e.g. blogs, podcasts, meetups, journals.
-
Share examples of emerging technologies or trends you recently studied and how they could benefit customers.
-
Highlight how you have applied your learnings to projects or proposals.
-
Convey intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Position yourself as an asset who adds value.
Example response: “I actively seek out opportunities to expand my technology expertise so that I can better serve customers and stay competitive. I maintain memberships in several industry associations to stay updated on technology trends. I also leverage online courses and training modules to sharpen my skills in emerging areas like AI and blockchain. Whenever I learn about an interesting new technology, I dig deeper to understand its applications and build small proofs of concept to test its capabilities. For instance, a recent training introduced me to the potential of quantum computing. I later proposed a workshop for my team to explore how quantum algorithms could one day transform the solutions we offer clients. I am genuinely passionate about technology and innovation and love exchanging ideas with peers to think creatively about the future.”
3. How would you assess the technology needs of a new client?
AHEAD thrives on understanding client needs and providing strategic solutions tailored to their business goals. This question tests your analytical abilities and customer orientation.
Tips for answering:
-
Demonstrate a structured approach to gathering requirements and analyzing pain points.
-
Discuss techniques like stakeholder interviews, current state analysis, competitive benchmarking etc.
-
Explain how you would evaluate capabilities against objectives to identify gaps and improvement areas.
-
Provide examples of the metrics or KPIs you would examine to quantify needs.
-
Highlight soft skills like active listening, effective questioning, and adaptability.
-
Position yourself as a strategic thinker who starts with the end goal in mind.
Example response: “My approach to assessing a new client’s technology needs begins with actively listening to their challenges and goals. I would have discovery sessions with key stakeholders across departments to identify pain points with their current systems and processes. I would analyze operational data and metrics to quantify these pain points where possible. For example, metrics showing longer production times or increased software failures can indicate lacking capabilities. I would also research the client’s competitors and industry peers to benchmark their technological maturity. Combining stakeholder perspectives with data analysis and competitive research allows me to outline priority areas for improvement and make recommendations on the technologies or solutions that can best address these needs. Throughout this process, I would work collaboratively with the client to customize our strategy based on their unique objectives and constraints. My aim is to provide technology recommendations that not only solve immediate problems but also scale to unlock future growth and innovation.”
4. Tell me about a time you successfully led a complex technical project. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
AHEAD project leaders must be able to execute complex initiatives despite ambiguities and obstacles. This question evaluates your project management skills under pressure.
Tips for answering:
-
Provide a brief background of the project and what made it complex. Quantify complexity such as tight timelines or interdependencies.
-
Outline specific challenges faced and how you responded using strategic thinking or creative problem-solving.
-
Demonstrate leadership ability by discussing how you motivated and empowered your team through the challenges.
-
Share examples of stakeholder management strategies you employed to align perceptions and expectations.
-
Highlight positive outcomes you achieved despite the difficulties, quantifying with metrics like KPI dashboards, customer satisfaction scores etc.
-
Take ownership for the results as the project leader. Use “I” not “we” language.
Example response: “As project lead for a supply chain transformation initiative, I faced the challenge of rolling out an integrated SAP system across a client’s global locations while adhering to an abbreviated 6 month timeline. There were complex integrations required across legacy systems and plant equipment. I broke down silos by establishing an integrated project team comprised of internal engineers and external vendor resources. We used agile sprints to deliver functionality incrementally, allowing for rapid testing and modifications. When priorities shifted mid-project, I facilitated collaborative sessions to re-baseline expectations and timelines with transparency. My proactive communication and inclusive leadership style empowered the team to maintain productivity despite uncertainties. Through strong stakeholder partnerships, I also ensured ongoing training and support post-implementation. Despite compressed timeframes, we ultimately completed the rollout on schedule while exceeding expected adoption rates. This project exemplified my ability to deliver complex initiatives through disciplined execution and an adaptable approach.”
5. How would you go about improving efficiency within an IT team?
Efficiency is key to AHEAD’s ability to provide cost-competitive and timely services. This question reveals your skills in process optimization and team leadership.
Tips for answering:
-
Demonstrate a systematic approach to analyzing current workflows and identifying improvement areas.
-
Suggest specific strategies based on bottlenecks observed in your own experience, e.g. automating repetitive tasks, streamlining documentation practices etc.
-
Discuss tactics for performance management and accountability while building a collaborative culture.
-
Provide examples where you improved team efficiency metrics through training programs, communication protocols etc.
-
Highlight leadership qualities like influence through inspiration, providing autonomy within guardrails, leading by example etc.
Example response: “Improving team efficiency requires a data-driven approach coupled with an inclusive leadership style. I would start by working closely with the IT team to map out their current workflows end-to-end. Through this exercise we can identify redundant steps, waiting periods between hand-offs, and the root causes of bottlenecks. For example, I revamped the dev-ops cycle in a past role by implementing test automation and a CI/CD pipeline to reduce repetitive manual tasks. Beyond process optimization, I would focus on clear communication of expectations, training team members on tools to enhance their skills, and setting SMART goals tied to efficiency KPIs. I have found that when people feel empowered in a collaborative environment, they contribute ideas more openly. I would solicit feedback from the team and incorporate their suggestions wherever possible, ultimately creating a culture of continuous improvement. With this combination of process excellence and inspirational leadership, I am confident I can significantly improve the efficiency of IT teams.”
6. Describe a time you successfully influenced business stakeholders to adopt a new technology. How did you get buy-in?
AHEAD consultants must influence stakeholders to drive change. This question assesses your communication, persuasion, and strategic thinking abilities.
Tips for answering:
-
Provide a brief background of the project and why the new technology was needed.
-
Discuss how you created a sound business case, including ROI projections, competitor analysis etc.
-
Share how you aligned arguments to the stakeholders’ priorities and addressed their concerns.
-
Demonstrate your communication skills in translating complex technical concepts into business benefits.
-
Outline your strategies for
Top questions to ask about training and professional development
Every new chance you get should not only be seen as a job, but also as the next step toward working toward your goals. Will this position help you get there?.
- What does your onboarding process look like?
- What chances do you give your employees to learn new things and grow professionally?
- Will I be able to get “stretch” assignments that will help me learn and use new skills?
- Are there opportunities for advancement within the company?
- Could I speak for the company at conferences for my field?
- Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?
Top tips for asking an employer questions in a job interview
Before we get to the list, here are a few pointers to keep in mind:
- Don’t say you have no questions. Your probably already know that the worst thing you could say is “Nope, I’m good,” no matter how stressed or relaxed you are or how sure you are that you’ll get the job. ”.
- Be flexible. Writing down some questions before the interview is fine (and even encouraged). But don’t be afraid to stray from the list if your questions have already been answered or if the discussion makes you think of a few more questions you’d like to ask. Also, you don’t want to sound like you’re reading the questions from a list on the internet instead of having a real conversation.
- Ask at least a few specific questions. Customize your questions to the job and company you’re interviewing for and remind the interviewers of the skills and knowledge you bring to the role. This will show that you’re interested and have been paying attention throughout the process.
- Don’t just ask questions at the end. Thoughts and questions are good in interviews, so don’t be afraid to ask questions when it makes sense during the talk.
- Ask questions you really want to know the answers to. Don’t only ask questions you think will impress your interviewer. Except for a few situations we’ll talk about, this is your chance to ask about the things you’re really interested in. It will also determine if you even want the job. You may not have been asked about a project that really interested you when you read the job description. You might not fully understand what the job entails, so you’d like to know what a typical day is like.
10 Best Questions to Ask an Interviewer – Job Interview Prep
FAQ
Can you ask for interview questions in advance?
Why do interviewers give questions in advance?
How to prepare for a big interview?
Luckily, you’re not going to let that happen again, and you’re planning ahead to ace this interview. The best way to prepare for anything is to do your research ahead of time. If you’re preparing for a big interview , prepping beforehand with these 15 interview questions can help you get one step closer to your dream job. 1. Tell me about yourself?
How do you answer a job interview question?
When interviewers ask this question they’re just trying to imagine how you would fit in if offered the job. There’s no right or wrong answer here, so the best approach is to be honest about your work preferences and explain to the interviewer why that’s your preference. Here’s a sample answer for this common interview question:
What makes a good interview answer?
A strong answer will demonstrate how your skills and experience will make you successful in the new role. As Jennifer explains, “Like with answers to many questions asked in an interview, this is your opportunity to show you have done your research, you understand the role, and you are aligned with the company’s goals and values.”
What questions do interviewers ask?
Interviewers often ask “ tell me about yourself ” to break the ice and get more information about your work history. This question is usually just an introduction to the interview, so most interviewers won’t take your response too seriously. However, you should still keep your response concise and focused.
