The Power of the “Do You Have Any Questions for Us” Question in an Interview

The Newbie Guide to Answering the “Do you have any questions for us” Question

You’re nearing the end of the interview. Mission almost complete. You can relax just a little bit. But there’s usually one final question -- “Do you have any questions for us?”

If you are new to interviewing and just starting out in your career, this is a good guide to help you with that question.There is power behind this question.

Never Say “No”

Always ask questions. This question is a great question for a number of reasons. First of all, it leaves the hiring manager with a lasting (favorable) impression of you but perhaps even more crucial is that you owe it to yourself to ask questions.

The interview is not a one-way street.

You own part of this decision. You have to decide if this is the right move for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that provide you with insight about what it would be like to work there.

Asking questions is critical for your assessment of the organization.

Many questions will flow naturally through the course of the interview but hiring managers expect questions at the end. Saying “no” is not what they want to hear. Interviewers may misread it for lack of interest on your part.

A good interview is more than just answering questions.It’s a conversation. Be prepared to ask your own pertinent questions.

Some Questions to Consider

Here are a list of questions you can consider asking in your job interview. These will help you get a better sense of the role and the company. Don’t bombard your interviewer. Ask the ones that mean the most to you.

To Help You Get a Better Feel for the Role

• What does a normal day look like?
• What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
• How will I be trained? How will my performance be reviewed?
• What are the performance expectations of this position over the next 12 months?
• What defines success?
• What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed?
• How does this position fit in with the rest of the company/organization?
• Is this a new position? ( If so, what made you decide to create it? / If not, why is it open?)
• Who would I work with most closely on a day-to-day basis?
• What are the most challenging facets of the position?

Understand How a Company Views New Hires

• What do you consider the most challenging aspect of this position for someone who is new to your organization?
• What competencies are you looking for in your new hires?
• What are your expectations for new hires?
• How long do you anticipate that it will take to get a person up to speed?

Get a Feel for the Culture

• How would you describe the company’s management style?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What would you say employees like most about working here?
• Is there anything employees would say they like least?
• Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
• Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?
• What are the career paths in this department/company?

Understand What the Future Might Look Like

• What would a successful employee make happen for you?
• What kinds of things would you expect of me to enable me to advance within the company?
• What kinds of advancement opportunities are there for someone in this position?
• Where do you see this company in the next few years?
• Where do you see this department / company going over the next year?
• What can you tell me about plans for growth?
• What training programs are available to your employees?
• Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?
• How do you encourage your employees to keep current with professional developments in the field?
• What are the opportunities for personal growth?
• What is the retention rate of people in the position for which I am interviewing?
• Is it organizational policy to promote from within? What is the work history of your top management?

To Develop More Rapport

• If I may ask, how long have you worked here? What do you like most about it?
• How long have you been with the company?
• Why did you come to this company?
• What’s your favorite part about working here?

The Not for the Faint of Heart Questions

• Do you see any gaps in my qualifications that I need to fill?
• Do you see any reasons I’m not fully qualified for this position?
• Now that you’ve had a chance to meet and interview me, what reservations would you have in putting me in this position?

Wrapping it Up

• What are the next steps in the interview process?
• Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?
• Is there anything else that I can tell you about myself to help you in your decision?
• What can I expect as far as next steps

Not All Questions Are Good Ones (AKA, Don’t ask these at the interview stage.)

The general guideline is not to ask about benefits, pay, time off, etc.You can ask those later upon receiving an offer.

Examples of questions not to ask at the interview phase:

• How much time off would I have?
• What do your benefits look like?
• Where would I sit?
• Do I have an office or a cubicle?

Don’t ask filler questions. If it’s simple and you have found the answer online, don’t ask it.

At the end of the interview, make sure you get a business card with the email address and phone number of your interviewer(s) and send them a thank-you email that same day. Happy interviewing and ask questions so you know if it’s right for you.