“Do you have any questions for me?” is normally asked at the end of every interview. The absolute worst response you can give is ‘No’. Always have questions prepared! This is your opportunity to dig deep and ensure the position and company are right for you.
It’s important to remember that you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Many candidates overlook this fact due to nervousness or the stress of interviewing. Use this opportunity for questions to help determine if the company is going to be a good fit. You can think of an interview as the corporate equivalent of a date. As in most relationships, there needs to be mutual interest to move forward.
“No” may seem like a good answer for various reasons. Possibly to show you have done all of your research prior to the interview. However, often times the Interviewer sees it as a lack of interest by the candidate. Questions show you were paying attention, thinking and analyzing. Failure to recognize and capitalize on this opportunity can be a costly mistake.
The more you question, the more knowledge you can obtain or confirm. Company culture, objectives and requirements are not always a Google search away and vary within company divisions and organizations. What is the organization’s culture? What are their plans for growth and their future roadmap? Is your perception of the company correct? Ask questions, even if you think you know the answers. There is no better source for information on a company than hearing it straight from the source!
This is also time to demonstrate your research. What does the company excel at compared to their competitors? Has the company received any awards? What are their core values? What separates them from other workplace environments? Be prepared to discuss these subjects and more to demonstrate your knowledge of the company. The more thorough you are the better the impression you will make.
While the questions you can ask are endless, the important thing is to ask. Never leave an interview without taking full advantage or this opportunity.
Examples
So what questions can you ask? We mentioned several above but below are some basic questions to consider:
- What is the best part of your job?
- Why did you choose to come work at this company? What keeps you here?
- In your opinion, what makes a person in this position successful at this company?
- Are you comfortable recommending that I move to the next step in this process?
- What does success look like for this position in 6 months? 1 year? 5 years?
- What sets you apart from your competitors?
