As a job interview draws to an end, it's common for the interviewer(s) to ask, "Do you have any questions for us?". While it's tempting to answer with a polite "No thanks," you should always ask questions.
In fact, interviewers expect you to ask questions — to assess your interest in the role, see if you've been listening, and determine if you've researched the company. If you don't ask questions, the interviewer might think you haven't done your homework or aren't interested in the opportunity.
Therefore, it makes sense to plan for it in advance and be prepared. Having a few quality questions prepared will ensure you're ready for this question and can help set you apart from the competition.
In this article, we discuss the types of questions to ask and the types of questions to avoid when asked "Do you have any questions for us?".
While preparing for an interview, develop a list of questions that you want answered by the interviewer and keep in mind that these questions may change slightly based upon your interviewer.
For instance, if you're meeting with the person who will be your manager, you might ask specific questions about your intended role. If you're meeting with someone from human resources, your questions might focus on the interviewing process or on the overall organization of the company.
Below are a few broad categories of questions that are appropriate to ask your interviewer when they throw the common interview question "Do you have any questions for us?" at you.
The hiring manager may have already covered information about the job’s functions, but this is the ideal time to get more details about the day-to-day responsibilities, expectations and goals. You could ask:
Asking questions about the company reveals that you’ve done your research and gives you a better picture of the company’s outlook, values and culture. Plus, it gives the impression that you’re interested in growing with the company long-term. Consider asking:
You can use this moment to get a sense of how the interviewer perceived you during the interview, and if they think you're a good candidate. With these questions, you might want to preface by expressing your excitement for the role, and then (based on the feedback you get) address the issue on the spot. You can ask:
Save your final question to ask about the next steps in the hiring process. You’ll convey your interest in the job one last time as well as learn about the hiring timeline, potential additional interviews or when you can expect to hear from them. You might say:
While you shouldn't be afraid to ask tough questions, there are some general things you should avoid:
Always remember, a great way to prepare for interview questions is to have a friend or family member pretend to be the interviewer who asks you questions while you practise your answers.
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