One of the most common questions that you will get at the end of an interview is "do you have any questions for me?" This question is an opportunity that many people overlook. Perhaps they were too busy preparing for other aspects of the interview, or they don’t want to seem pushy. But you should always take this opportunity to ask questions to improve your chances of getting a job offer. In fact, if you don't have any good questions, it could be a sign that you aren't particularly interested in the job or aren’t a great fit for the role.
Researching questions to ask at the end of an interview will show the company that you are invested in their organization and committed to your job search. This shows that you’ve done your homework, are familiar with the company, and are passionate about the position. Remember, though, not all questions are good ones. Make sure they are appropriate and focus on something you’re truly curious about — generally a good way to find a winning question is to think of one that would help clarify how you would perform the duties of the job being offered.
But what types of questions are you supposed to ask at this point? If you’ve had trouble with this portion of interviews in the past, you’ve come to the right place. Suitably has prepared a list of 27 questions. Just pick a few that resonate with you, and have them ready to confidently wrap up any job interview.
Best Questions to Ask About the Job Itself
Even if you’ve thoroughly read the job description, you’re likely to have some questions about the responsibilities of the role that you’re interviewing for. This is also your opportunity to learn more to help you decide if you really want to take the job if it is offered to you – so don’t pass it up!
1) What are the expectations for an ideal candidate in this role?2) What are the key skills that an ideal candidate would ideally have to be successful in this role?
3) What does a typical day look like in this position?
4) What key accomplishments would you expect in the first 90/180/365 days?
5) What are the biggest challenges that someone may face in this role?
6) What is the first project that you would expect a new hire to focus on?
7) How is success defined at the company? Are there any key metrics or goals?
8) How long is the onboarding process? When will I start to have responsibility for key deliverables?
9) Do you expect the responsibilities of this role to change over time?
10) What sort of career development and learning opportunities will be available?
11) Can you tell me more about that team that I would potentially be working with? Who will I be working with most closely?
12) What have successful employees in this role moved on to within the company?
13) How long do employees usually spend in this specific role?
Common Questions to Ask About Your Interviewer’s Experience
Most people love to talk about themselves, so it’s worth asking a question or two about your interviewer’s experiences on the job.
14) How long have you been in this role?
15) How has your role and responsibilities changed over time?
16) What are you most excited about for the future of the company?
17) What is the best part of working for this company?
18) What was the most interesting project/deal/etc. that you have worked on while here?
19) What are the biggest challenges that you face in your role?
20) Where in the company is the most pressing need for additional resources?
Smart Questions to Ask About the Future of the Company
In addition to asking about the specifics of the job and your interviewer’s personal experience, it's also an important time to show off your knowledge of the company, your interest in its future, and how well you've done your research. Here are some smart questions to ask about the future of the company:
21) What is the company currently focused on achieving? How would this team be focused on those goals?
22) How has the company changed over time?
23) What are the company’s core values?
24) What is most exciting to you about the company’s future?
Remember though to not ask anything too basic. If you can find the answer on Google, it could raise issues about your judgment if you spend time asking your interviewer the same question.
A Few Questions to Never Ask at the End of an Interview
While most questions are fair game, there are a few that you should avoid. For example, asking about salary or benefits would be premature until you have an offer letter in hand. That said, you should always do your research into salary, benefits, and culture on Glassdoor in advance of an interview. Assuming you’re interviewing at a large enough company, all of this information should be available online.
- How much is the salary for this position?
- What is the expected bonus?
- How is the company’s health insurance program?
- What is the 401k match?
- Is there a paid leave policy in place?
- What are the details of any equity compensation?
- When exactly do you expect to make a hiring decision?
Ideal Closing Questions for your Interviewer
As the interview comes to a close, you may find that you reach a natural stopping point. If you’re running out of questions or feel like it’s time to wrap things up, here are a few questions that you can use.
25) What does the timeline look like for the hiring process?
26) Is there any other info that I could provide that would be helpful to you?
27) Is there anything else that I should be asking about?
Remember, interviewers want to know that you have read their job description, know their industry, and have prepared questions to ask them. By having a few of these questions memorized, you'll be sure to leave a great impression. And when you've finished the interview, send the interviewer an email thanking them for their time.