What to Ask in an Interview

In today’s marketplace, candidates have to work hard at maintaining a competitive advantage. Consequently, standing out in a sea of candidates is critical for the successful outcome of an interview.

When you have obtained an in-person interview, be armed with a list of thoughtful and original questions. To arrive with a list of questions, do your research in advance (refer to article on conducting a company research before interview in CAREERS collection).

It’s important to walk away from an interview by impressing the employer rather than leaving a hiring manager disappointed because you failed to ask any questions when given the opportunity. Moreover, asking questions allows you to depart from the interview with information that may help you in deciding whether the position or company is the right one for you.

Hiring managers may get the wrong idea about you if you don’t ask questions. Following are some impressions you may leave in the absence of questions:

• You are not really interested in the position or company
• You didn’t care to take the time to make a list of questions
• You have no curiosity and perhaps no motivation
• You didn’t plan in advance
• You think your achievements alone are impressive and questions aren’t necessary
• You aren’t smart enough to come up with questions
• You want to conclude the interview quickly, and don’t have time for questions 

Conducting research on the company, industry and hiring manager will provide ample information from which you can formulate thoughtful questions and also help you avoid asking questions for which answers are already available online. For example, instead of asking “how will this position evolve?”, you may ask a more customized/original question by asking, “In a recent quarterly update, the CEO stated that the company will expand its services to South America. Will this role be critical in the expansion plans and will there be opportunities for Spanish-speaking employees to join the project?”

Unfortunately, the world doesn’t operate with ample advance notice. So, what if you are asked to attend an interview on short notice and don’t have time to research and plan? If you don’t have enough time to formulate customized questions, try some of the suggestions below:

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

About Job

• What does a typical day on the job look like for this position?
• What are the three most important projects/tasks that I will need to accomplish in the first month? First 90 days?
• How does the company define and measure success for this position?
• How do you see this position evolving in the next two to four years?

About Hiring Manager

• What do you enjoy the most about your job?
• What do you like least and most about the company culture?
• If you could improve one thing about the company, what would it be?

About the Company

• Would you describe the company culture?
• Would you tell me a little bit about the team I will be working with?
• What is the company’s competitive advantage?

Conclusion of Interview

• Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications? OR
• What concerns/reservations, if any, do you have about me for this position?
• What are the next steps?
• When can I expect to hear back?

Links to Good Reads on Asking Questions at a Job Interview

45+ Good Questions to Ask in Your Job Interview

Still amiss for ideas? Susan P. Joyce of Job-Hunt.org provides over 45 more questions you can ponder as you prepare for your interview. She also reminds the candidate that “job interviews should be as great a source of information for you, as they are for employers.” … read more

The 45 Questions You Should Ask In Every Job Interview

Author Heather Huhman advises, “Interviewers will be focused on finding out if you’re a right fit for the position, but it’s also important to decide if the company is a right fit for you.” Review her list of 45 questions that may spark new ideas … read more

The single best question to ask in a job interview

In this entertaining, informative article, author and business journalist Suzy Welch provides a narrative from the employer’s perspective and argues, “If you're asking the questions in an interview, make sure the people you hire don't have to learn that on the job. And if you're answering them, prove you already know it.” … read more