How to Answer the “Do You Have Any Questions for Me?†Interview Question
Generally, at the end of an interview, the interviewer will ask something along the lines of, “Do you have any questions for us?†It is very important that you always ask questions in an interview when given the opportunity. Incredibly, the most common answer to this is “no†and (not so incredibly) this is the answer most likely to prevent you from being hired. The “no†answer is passive and does not demonstrate any interest or imagination.
You should always have questions prepared prior to the interview because your questions, like your answers, are something that will determine whether you get the job.
When people ask questions in an interview it shows:
- You are interested in the job and the hiring organization. If someone is not interested, they generally do not ask questions. Employers want to hire people who are interested in the job. If you really want the job, you are likely to have questions that you want answered.
- You are prepared. Employers love it when people seem prepared for interviews. Being prepared shows employers that you are likely to be prepared for meetings and other tasks if you work for them. This will make you stand out in the interview. You should never go into an interview and think you can “wing it†(even if you can). The more prepared you are, the better off you will be.
- You are interested in establishing further rapport. When you ask questions, you are giving the interviewer the opportunity to talk about themselves. This is very important. While a good interviewer will give the opposite impression, most interviewers (and people) are far more interested in talking about themselves than listening to your answers. If the interviewer likes your questions and enjoys giving answers to them, it will help you establish rapport and get the job.
I also want to be clear that your objective in every interview is to get the job. Thus, when an employer answers your questions, it is important that you make certain the employer understands that their answers and description of the company match your strengths. I am not recommending you do not tell the truth; however, you need to find commonality between you and the employer.
If you are asking questions properly, you will get the interviewer talking and enjoying the conversation. While the six questions below are important to ask, you should also feel free to include anything that properly serves to further demonstrate your interest in the job.
Here are some good questions to ask in an interview:
1. Why is this Position Open?
This is an important question to ask because it can give you a lot of information and may be very relevant to helping you decide whether (or how much) you want to work for the employer. The position could be open for the following reasons:
- Someone got promoted.
- Someone left.
- Someone got fired.
- The company is growing rapidly and needs more people.
If someone left, or got fired, you should try and understand the reasons why. For example, the employer’s expectations for the person may be unrealistic. The pay may not be commensurate with what this role. Alternatively, the company may just be a lousy place to work.
If someone has left or been fired, it also makes sense to try and figure out how many people have had the same job in the recent past. There could be a problem with the job that makes it difficult to do well.
If someone left, or got fired, it is also a good idea to try and find out how long the person was in the job before you. If someone spent several years there, this is generally a good sign and means that (all things considered) they were able to get along with others and do well there.
If someone is getting promoted, or the company is growing, this is an excellent sign. Companies that are growing and promoting people tend to have good things going on, their revenues are increasing and they are doing something right. These are good companies to be part of.
INTERVIEW ADVICE: If the position is open because the organization is growing, or someone has been promoted, express your enthusiasm for working for a company that has opportunity for advancement.
INTERVIEW ADVICE: If the position is open because someone was fired, or has left, make sure you let the employer know that the issues the other employee had are not something that you too would have. This is an opportunity to express how you are different, more competent, more loyal and a better fit for the job.
2. Who Would I Be Reporting to and What Are They Like?
The person (or persons) you report to is a very important calculation for any job. Being a manager is something that not everyone is good at. In contrast, some people are exceptional managers.
When the interviewers starts telling you about the person you will be reporting to, you can [hopefully] get a sense of whether they are someone you could work for. For example:
- Some bosses are micromanagers and will tell you how to do every single thing. Some people like this management style because it is predictable while others find it smothering.
- Some bosses are completely hands-off and just expect you to be motivated and do the work. Some people like this management style while others need more direction.
- Some bosses have zero management experience and will make lots of mistakes. Some people like this while others prefer an experienced manager.
- Some bosses have tons of management experience. Some people like this while others prefer a supervisor more receptive to new methods and ideas.
You need to have a very good understanding of the management style the person has who you will be reporting to. The person you work for can either make your life and job very pleasant, or they can make it hell. You need to make absolutely sure that you are comfortable with the person you are working for.
Throughout the years, I have seen numerous careers both advanced and destroyed by someone who had the fortune or misfortune to report to a given individual. You need to make sure that you are going to work for someone you feel comfortable with.
INTERVIEW ADVICE: If the interviewer does tell you about a person you believe you would do well working for, it is important that you make sure the interviewer understands this. Make sure you express why you may be a good match for working with that supervisor.
3. What Goals Would You Have for Me During the First 30, 60 and 90 Days?
This will generally explain the expectations of the company you are going to be joining and how well-organized they are.
A well-run company is going to be able to answer this question and give you milestones. When they give you the answer to this question, their objectives will be reasonable and achievable. Their answer will also give you an indication of whether you feel this is a position you can excel in.
A poorly run company may not be able to provide you with a definitive answer to this question. If the position and its responsibilities are not well-defined, this means that you may find yourself in trouble down the road. If your position is not well-defined, and others’ positions are also not well-defined, the odds are pretty good that the organization may end up experiencing problems down the road. In order to succeed and grow, most companies need to be well managed and have clearly defined jobs for their employees.
Notwithstanding, some companies do not have clearly defined roles for people because they operate in a multi-tasking environment and expect their employees to be self-motivated and get all the work done, regardless of what it is. If this is the case, the most important thing you can do is make sure that you are comfortable with the work and the environment. As long as you are comfortable with this type of situation, you may be in good shape.
INTERVIEW ADVICE: If the company has clearly defined tasks and roles, tell the interviewer that you enjoy working for a company with such structure. In many cases, the person interviewing you will have been involved in defining various roles in the company and will appreciate your comment.
INTERVIEW ADVICE: If the company has less defined roles for its employees, it is important for you to stress the fact that you willing to jump in and do whatever needs to be done.
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