The interview is progressing smoothly, but suddenly the interviewer asks if you have any questions to ask.
If you are not prepared, you may end up undoing all the hard work you have put in up to this point. In most cases, the interviewer invites the candidate to ask questions at the very end of the job interview.
To establish good communication with the interviewer, you should not just ask any questions, but you should prepare to ask the right questions.
This article: guides on how to respond to the common interview question, “Do you have any questions for me?”.
You will discover why it’s important to ask the right questions.
Find out what questions to prepare beforehand, how to avoid common mistakes, and get sample of 30 questions to ask the interviewer.
Why Do They Ask This Question?
When an interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions that you would like to ask us?” During an interview, they do not want to be polite.
They genuinely want to give you an open invitation to present your thoughts about the job and your expectations.
They also want to learn more about you in case they miss something during the course of the interview.
A) How Do Many Candidates Respond to the Question?
You may be surprised to know that most candidates do not take this opportunity and simply answer, “No, I think we’ve covered everything.”
Some candidates mistakenly think that asking questions shows a lack of confidence or knowledge, while others haven’t prepared questions, may be too anxious or simply do not have any questions to ask.
You wouldn’t want to be caught unprepared, so a good response on your part would be “Yes, I do.”
B.) Prepare Your Questions Beforehand
Not having well-considered questions to ask the interviewer is a missed opportunity to learn about the job challenges and expectations.
It is also a good opportunity to obtain useful information about the company and workplace culture. Most importantly, it is another great chance to demonstrate indirectly your skills and professional experience and to present the important factors for you in the job.
C.) Don’t Fake Questions – Ask Genuine Questions
You should only ask questions that you genuinely want to know the answer to.
While this might seem apparent, there are many candidates who ask questions they think the interviewer wants them to ask.
This is a waste of both your time and theirs, and they will almost always see through what you are trying to do.
What Questions to Ask the Interviewer?
You should ask questions that demonstrate the depth of the research you have conducted.
Show just how interested you are in the job by asking complex questions that require more in-depth answers. Avoid questions about vacation, salary, and benefits.
Sample Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Here are the best questions we could gather for you:
- I read in Business Week that one of your major competitors is set to increase their market share into your main market. What is the plan of your company to hold onto that market share?
- How is success measured within your company, how often are evaluations conducted?
- Could you describe a typical day for me?
- Can you tell me about your career journey within the company, and would others entering the company today enjoy those same opportunities?
- I was reading about your training program and I was wondering whether the employee has any say in the training programs taken.
- What are the challenging components of this job?
- What do you consider the five key day to day responsibilities with this job?
- What is the main priority of the person doing this job?
- Can you give me examples of the best results others in this position have produced?
- What are the company’s plans for future change and growth?
- Does management encourage promotion from within the company?
- What are the company’s strengths?
- What challenges does the company face?
- Can you describe the company’s personality?
- What is the management style used within this company?
- What do the supervisors and managers of this company have in common?
- What might I be doing in the next 3 to 5 years?
- What are the expectations of the company for new hires within the next six months?
- Describe the environment I will be working within.
- What are the department’s strengths and weaknesses?
- How will I help the company?
- What is the biggest challenge facing the company right now?
- What qualities do you desire in your new hires?
- What happened to the previous person who held this position?
- How many people have held this position in the past 2 years?
- Who would my supervisor be if I was chosen for this position?
- Who will I work closely with?
- Will I supervise anyone? If so who?
- What do you feel are the characteristics of a successful person in your company?
- What does your company stand for? What are your values?
These 30 questions should give you some ideas about the type of questions you should be asking. Remember; don’t just ask the mundane questions.