During the interview how to Answer, "Do You Have Any Questions for us?" (Questions to ask and what to avoid)

After you’ve ACED your interview and successfully answered all the top interview questions, the recruiter or hiring manager will normally close by asking, "Do you have any questions?"  Your answer should always be YES!  

Asking questions distinguishes you from other candidates by showing you're taking it seriously.

It's also an opportunity for you to understand the role better so you can continue to sell yourself as you move through the interview process. And, decide if this position would be a good fit for you or if it shows red flags.

So, let’s review how many questions to ask, when to ask them, the best questions to impress the hiring manager (so you better understand the company, job, your boss, next steps), and questions to avoid.  Let’s go!

How many questions do I ask and when do I ask them?

At the end of the interview, they’ll ask, “Do you have any questions for us?”  If they don’t do that, ask them. “Thank you for your time.  Can I ask a few questions before I leave?”

You’ll normally only have a couple of minutes, so ask your top priority 2-4 questions.

 Best Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview

Ask Questions to Understand the Company

 Where do you see the company going or what are some of the biggest goals over the next few years?

 Every company wants to hire employees that see themselves growing with the company, and this question shows your interest in that.

 It also allows you to see the company's future goals and how they might impact your role. 

What is the Company Culture like?

This question will help you get more clarity on the company and decide if it’s the right culture fit for you.

To better understanding staff morale, if the company cares about their employees, is it a structured environment, or do they allow space for creativity, do they have professional development opportunities, team building, etc.

What is it that you enjoy about working here?

 This question lets you connect with the hiring manager, recruiter, or interview panel to get a feel for how they describe working with the company. 

Are they excited about it, passionate about what they do, or do they seem unhappy in their roles? This is a question to consider and evaluate if the company is the right fit or if it’s a red flag. 

Ask Questions to understand the job/role

 What is a typical day look like working in this position, or can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?

 This is a question to get a better idea of the flow or routine for this position. To understand, Is there flexibility to it? Do priorities change based on seasons or various goals? Are there team meetings weekly, etc.?

 What would be some of the goals for the first 90 days of this position?

This is a great question if you're trying to figure out what will be expected of you once you start the job.

For example, if you're applying for a sales position, this question lets you know what the training time might look like or when they expect you to start hitting goals.

 What are the biggest strengths that have led to success in this role?

 This question will help set expectations, but there's another perk to it. It's another chance to reiterate your strengths.

 For example, suppose the interviewer says marketing skills are a top priority for this role. In that situation, you can make note of this to describe a situation in how you set your team up for success on a marketing campaign or marketing story for the next interview.

 You can also share this in your closing when you thank them for the opportunity to interview, your excitement for the role, and that it aligns with your strongest skill set of marketing, etc. Use this question to drive home your strengths as they apply directly to the role. 

 What budget will I be working with?

 This is an important question if you’re in a leadership/management role or working with a budget.

 For example, suppose you’re in sales and have a budget for travel, meeting with clients, etc. Or maybe you’re a Marketing Director who needs to know the budget you’d be working from. 

 Are there any immediate company goals that would impact this role in the next year?

 This question helps you get further information on the role and some immediate plans they have for it, or what might expect how you approach the first 90 days. 

 Having this question answered, will also help you prepare for the next interview, so you could go into further detail with how you how you would accomplish the goals they have. 

 What would be some of the biggest challenges someone would face at the beginning of this role?

 This question lets you see what they already acknowledge as some of the learning curves or hurdles you might face when first starting. 

Ask Questions to understand your supervisor

 Who Do I Report to for this role?

 Sometimes job descriptions say who your supervisor is, but, if you’re unsure make sure you ask.

 What is your leadership style? 

 Your direct supervisor is someone you’ll interact with regularly, so you want to get a feel for how they manage, their expectations, and how they’ll work with you.

 If they’re rude during interviews or short, it might be something to note as an interview red flag to look for and decide if this is still the best fit for you. 

 Ask Questions to Ask for Next Steps in the Interview Process

 What are the next steps in the hiring process?

 This question shows your interest in the position and gives you a timeline or idea of what the next steps will look so you can decide how best to follow up after the interview.  

 Bonus Question: Is there any further clarity I can provide or any concerns you have?

 This lets you clear up anything they might have been confused by, or still need clarity on, or if there are aspects about you as a candidate, they’re unsure about. 

Ask Questions to get clarity

 Is there anything I’ve said I can provide clarity on or anything that makes you doubt me being a great fit for this position?

 This one is always a bold question, but great so you can get feedback on where you stand.  And you can address or provide clarity for anything they might be questioning.

 What Questions to Avoid?

 ·        What is the salary for this position? 

·        What does vacation time or the benefits package look like? 

·        How long is the probation period? 

 These questions should NOT be asked during the interview but discussed once you have the offer and you can negotiate. 

 If they do ask you any of these questions, make sure to say, “I would love to take this time to learn more about the role, and for you to get to know me, but I’m happy to discuss this more once we’re looking at an offer.”

 Final Thoughts

You’re trying to impress the interviewer so they give you an offer.  But, the interview process is to also know if this is the right fit for you.  Ask the right questions and pay attention during the interview for any red flags.

The right job is out there for you.

You Got this!

-Melody Joy