40+ Smart Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
“Do you have any questions for me?”
Anyone who has done an interview or two knows this seemingly simple question is a signal things are wrapping up. The interviewer has asked all their questions; now, the floor is yours. After spending hours prepping and rehearsing the perfect stories and responses to give, many candidates often forget to prepare their questions to ask.
You don’t want to be caught off guard, and you certainly don’t want to respond with “no.” So what kinds of questions do you ask? And how do you know which questions you should ask?
How to decide what questions to ask during a job interview
Be specific
Personalize your questions to the role. Avoid general and vague questions such as “What’s the work culture like?”. Instead, you want to narrow and personalize the scope of your question. If you prioritize an inclusive work culture, asking, “How does management work to foster a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity within the company?” is much more likely to get you the specific information you’re looking for.
Know your goals and priorities
What is it that you are looking for in a job? Like the hiring manager, the interview is for you to assess if this is a suitable fit. So don’t just ask questions for the sake of filling time. If you have specific career goals, asking questions will help determine if this opportunity fits your vision.
Follow up on topics already discussed
Interviews aren’t interrogations. Ideally, at this point in the interview, you’ve built some rapport, and an organic conversation is going on. Use this time to get further information on topics discussed earlier. For example, you might follow up on a project the interviewer mentioned, or you could ask for more details on development and upskilling opportunities offered by the company.
Preparing questions ahead of time is never a bad idea, but don’t be afraid to change things up upon learning new information. Taking notes during your interview to jot down key points and questions will help you prioritize what you want to ask.
40+ Sample Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
Questions about the job
- Do you foresee the job responsibilities evolving? How so?
- What’s the biggest challenge past employees in this position faced?
- What qualities did you see in a past employee you feel excelled in this role?
- What does a typical day or week look like in this role?
- In what ways would I be contributing to the company as a whole?
- If selected for the job, what is the ideal starting date?
- Is this a new position, or am I replacing someone?
- Can you tell me about the immediate projects I would work on if selected?
- How long before I will be … [meeting with clients, taking over my own accounts, working with cross-functional teams, etc.]
- Who would not be a good fit for this role?
Questions about work culture/environment
Most likely, you don’t want to work somewhere that doesn’t align with your values or professional needs.
- How do you prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion?
- How would you describe the work culture?
- How does the organization ensure remote and on-site employees are given equal opportunities and recognition?
- What is something unique about working here compared to other businesses?
- How is success recognized?
- How has the culture evolved since you started working here?
- What makes people stay at this company?
- How would you rate the company on living up to its core values? What’s an area the company is looking to improve on?
- What typically surprises employees when they first start?
Questions about the team
- What skills is the team missing that you are hoping to be filled with this role?
- What can you tell me about the team I would be working with?
- Can you tell me about my direct reports? What are their strengths, and what challenges can I expect?
- What other departments could I expect to be working with?
- What tools or frameworks does the team typically use?
Questions for the interviewer
Not all interviewers are strictly hiring managers. Sometimes, they might be your future boss. If this is the case, asking any questions about them can be helpful.
- What’s your favourite part of working here?
- How long have you been working here?
- Have you always worked as a manager here?
- When staff come to you with a conflict, how do you respond?
Questions about role expectations and performance
It’s important to know what will be expected of you. Consider asking some of these questions to see if you can perform to the company’s standards.
- What metrics will be used to measure my work performance?
- What accomplishments will you expect in the first 30, 60 and 90 days?
- What is the review process like? How often are formal reviews conducted?
- How do you evaluate success here?
- How would you describe the management style here?
Questions about training and advancement opportunities
- Can you explain the onboarding process?
- Is there an opportunity to advance positions in the future?
- How does the company ensure employees stay current with the latest technology and trends?
- What is a potential growth trajectory for someone in this role?
- How do you help staff grow professionally?
- Where have successful employees advanced to?
Questions for next steps
- What does the timeline look like for making your final decision?
- Is there any other information I can provide you with?
- Do you have any other questions for me?
- Is there anything you heard in this interview that concerns you about hiring me?
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