INTERVIEW RESOURCE GUIDE

All the information you need on interviewing, following-up, negotiating and much more. Pick and choose topics that interest you in the sidebar or print the whole guide.

Questions To Ask in an Interview

Preparing a list of interview questions to ask the interviewer is crucial for your success. Asking thoughtful questions will benefit you in many ways. Your interview questions will demonstrate your active interest in the position and company, helping you learn more about its history and current expectations. Surprisingly, many candidates don’t have any questions for the prospective employer. When this happens, it creates 2 negative perceptions:

 

  1. The candidate lacks interest in the position
  2. The candidate lacks attention to detail, as they aren’t doing due diligence

 

You should ask questions that emphasize what truly matters to you..

 
 

Examples of questions to ask in an interview:

  • What will your expectations be of me in the first month/6 months/year in this position?
  • How quickly are you looking to make your hiring decision?
  • Who are your major competitors?  How do you compete with your major competitors?  What is your current market share?
  • Tell me about a typical day/month in the department.
  • What milestones does the company intend to reach in the next 5 to 10 years?
  • What are the company’s overall strengths/weaknesses?
  • Describe the culture of the company/department
  • What are some of your prominent management philosophies?
  • Why is the position open?

 
 

Examples of closing questions:

You will ask your closing questions toward the end of the interview, and these almost always relate directly to your current position within the interview process. These questions aim to give you a better idea of where you stand in the interview process and how much interest the prospective company has in you.

 

  • Do you have any hesitations at this point about the success I could bring to the company? OR What questions/concerns do you have about my background as it relates to this position?
  • How do I compare with other applicants?
  • Is there anything in my background that would keep me from receiving an offer?
  • What is your hiring process? OR What is the next step?
  • When can we schedule the next interview?
  • Consider asking if you can meet a few current employees.