Do you have any questions?

Do you have any questions?

It is something 99.9% of interviewers will ask candidates, however based on my experience only a small handful ask questions. An even smaller handful of those are genuine questions and not what you find on “top 5 questions you should ask in an interview” lists.

Why is it important to ask questions? It shows you are genuinely interested in the company and the role and not just looking for an opportunity to leave your current position. It demonstrates you are thinking long term and making sure just as much as you are a match for the company, they’re a match for you. It also helps you ask anything that was not covered during the interview that may be important to you.

So what are my top 5 questions you should ask at the end of an interview?

1. There
2. Are
3. No
4. Standard
5. Questions

The questions you ask need to be based on what you want to know about working with the organisation long term and give you a chance to be honest with your expectations.

For example, if you’re looking to leave your current role because you constantly work overtime and miss your kids school events ask the question “being a great parent to my child is very important to me. My current role requires me to do regular overtime meaning I miss key school milestones. Is regular overtime part of this role?”.

If you are changing roles to work closer to home, ask if the company has any plans to relocate their office anytime soon or if working from home is option even part time.

If you are highly money motivated and expect a salary increase each year, ask how regularly salary increases are applied across the organisation and what the average increase in % is.

There are no right or wrong questions to ask, however “no I don’t have any questions” isn’t the best way to end the interview. Make sure you walk out of there knowing everything you need to know to help you make a decision if it’s the right place for you long term, and that you have left a positive impression that sets clearly your expectations.

As an additional pro-tip “will I have to wear the uniform?” is not a great question to ask. I learnt this the hard way when I was 16 and interviewed for the very first time for a cashier role in a chemist. I didn’t get the job, however in my defence it was a very unflattering uniform…