We’ve all been there – at the end of an interview, when your interviewer wraps up and then asks, “do you have any questions for me?” You may feel comfortable with the knowledge and information they’ve given you, but don’t say no! Now is your time to ask some more questions about the company or role to give you more insight into how they work, as well as show your interviewers that you are interested in the position and want to know more about them. Here are a few examples of questions you can ask:
1. Questions About the Company
By asking questions about the company, you can gain more insight into how it operates and how it treats its employees. Here are a few questions that will help you do that:
- What qualities do successful employees typically have here?
This question will allow you to understand what it takes to succeed in the company, and what higher-ups generally look for when promoting internally.
- What do you like most about working here?
By asking this, you can build a little bit more rapport with your interviewer, as well as gain some valuable insight into what you can expect from the company if offered a job.
- How would you describe the company culture?
Company culture is an important part of accepting a new job – you want to make sure the company aligns with your own personal management style, goals, expectations, and communication styles – so this is good information to know.
- (If speaking to the person you would be reporting to) How would you describe your management style?
If you’re talking to the person you’ll be working under, it’s a good idea to make sure that their management style aligns with your work style. If you work better under a more hands-off approach, your work satisfaction may suffer if you have a manager who is more hands-on.
- I noticed some poor reviews from previous employees. Have you done anything to remedy the issues they brought up?
Before your interview, as you are researching the company, be sure to check sites like Indeed and Glassdoor for reviews from previous employees. If you see any reviews that point to specific issues, ask your interviewers if they’re working to resolve any issues in their management or policies. If they aren’t, that may be a red flag and you may want to look elsewhere for your next position!
2. Questions About the Role
These are important questions to consider, since you want to know what exactly you’ll be doing if you get the job!
- What does an average day look like in this role?
This is a good way to find out what your daily duties will consist of, and if the position is running like a well-oiled machine. They may have a strict schedule, or no schedule at all, so it’s good to know what you’re getting into!
- What is the most challenging part of this role?
This will be a great way to gauge the struggles that previous employees have had in this role and give you the opportunity to decide if you’re up to the challenges before accepting the position.
- Is this role new, or would I be replacing a previous employee?
In some cases, the interviewers may be looking for someone to create an entirely new role at their company, which means all the job details might not be fleshed out until you start work. It’s an important thing to know before you accept a position!
- Do you have any concerns about me as an employee?
This will allow you to talk through any issues the interviewers may have with you as an applicant and give you insight into how well you’ve done during the process. If they have any concerns about answers you shared, it will provide you an opportunity to clarify them.
3. Questions About Next Steps
Asking questions about the next steps in the process will show your interviewers that you are interested in moving forward with them, and that you’re confident about your performance thus far.
- What are the next steps in the process?
Short and to the point!
- Would you like me to provide anything else to help in the decision-making process?
This will allow your interviewers to ask for extra information that they may have forgotten about, or which they generally ask for a bit further along in the process. This may be a certificate you’ve earned, a portfolio, or additional information about you.
- Are there any other aspects of the job that you couldn’t cover?
If something didn’t get brought up during the initial interview, this will allow your interviewer to provide any of that miscellaneous information that may be helpful in your decision to work for them.
Happy interviewing! And if you need more interview tips, you can find them here.
