Interviews can be scary, but they should not feel like an interrogation session. Just like the interviewer has a ton of questions for you, you should have some questions you’d like to ask them. These should be questions that will help you to evaluate the position up for grabs. An interview is a two-way street. Not only do you need to convince the interviewer that you are a great fit, but they need to convince you that their company is also a great fit for you!

Find Out How You’re Doing:

When the interviewer has asked all their prompts and gets down to “do you have any questions for me?”, take advantage of it and see how you are doing as a candidate!

“Have I answered all your questions?” can be a great way to start. This allows interviewers to let you know if they’d like you to elaborate on something you said or give an example, which in turn shows you are proactive and passionate. If they say, “No, you answered all of my questions very well,” then this may tell you you’re doing a good job. If they respond with, “Actually, could you tell me more about X?” or “Would you be able to clarify what you meant when you said Y?” this is your chance to make that lasting impression.

Another great question to go for in this situation is “do you have any hesitations about my qualifications?”. This question puts you in a more vulnerable position but also shows the interviewer that you are confident enough to address your weaknesses, which are okay to have.

Find Out How the Company Is Doing:

This set of questions is a great way to show the interviewer that you’ve either done your homework on the company and are educated or are super eager and interested in helping the company rise.

“What are some problems the company is facing right now and what is your department doing to help solve them? Is not only a great conversation topic to get the ball rolling, but also gives you insight about the company’s ambitions and what you may be getting on board for.

Similarly, “can you tell me where the company is going”, is a good question for company owners. They can answer this question best and give you an idea of what their whole purpose is. Knowing what a company is all about and where they are headed will be sure to help you decide if it is the right fit.

If you are looking to get a straight-forward perspective on what it is like to work with a specific company, asking about staff turnover rate is the way to go. Not only will the interviewers’ answer tell you if people like working there or not, but it will also show them that you understand job security and its importance.

Find Out What the Company’s Culture is Like:

Company values are an extremely important part of the workplace. Asking questions such as “what is your company’s culture like?’, “why do people stay with this company?”, and “how do you help employees to succeed” will all give you a true idea of the company’s values and what it means to work there.

Asking about meeting other colleagues and potential managers can also be a great way to get a deeper look at the company. If you are going to be working with the company for a while, you want to get to know the environment. If interviewers do not take the time to introduce you to other employees, you may want to proceed with caution.

Cover All the Bases:

Before leaving an interview, you want to have all the information you will need to accept or decline a job offer. To achieve this, you may need to ask some final questions on the way out.

“What other steps must be completed before your company can develop a job offer?” tells the interviewer you are eager and ready to move forward. This also gives you an idea of what may hold up the hiring process and the time frame you should expect to hear back within.

Another great question to finish off with can be “Is there anything on my resume you’d like me to elaborate on or any other information you may need from me in order to make a decision?”. Again, this shows the interviewer that you are interested as well as ready and willing to move forward.

Takeaway:

Asking the right questions in an interview can be the make-it or break-it. Depending on which questions you decide to ask, you will get a chance to learn more about the company and maybe even some insight as to how your interview is going.

Interviewers will also notice and appreciate the interest you have in the job or company. Asking the right questions makes it known that you want this role and are ready to pursue things further.

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