18 Questions To Ask At The End Of An Interview
Almost every interviewer gives interviewees an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview. Although this is a great opportunity for job seekers, the situation can also be stressful. If you don’t come prepared with questions, you could sit in silence. Find out what questions you should ask after an interview to improve your chances of a job offer.
1. What’s the Company Culture?
You and the company need to have similar philosophies and worldviews. By asking this question, you show the hiring manager that you care about the company culture, and that you want to ensure it’s the right fit.
2. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working for the Company?
It’s important to develop rapport with the interviewer. With this question, you can develop rapport as well as gain insight into the company.
3. Where Do You See the Company in Five Years?
The future matters and a hiring manager wants to see that you plan to be with the company for years to come. This question shows that you have enough foresight to question the future and that you have the desire to remain with the company for a long time.
4. How Does the Company Define and Demonstrate Its Values?
If you only ask about the company’s values, you’re revealing that you haven’t done your due diligence. Rather than ask a generic question about values, ask how the company showcases its values.
5. What Makes a Successful Employee?
Every job applicant knows to act as if they want the job. But take it one step further and show that you want to be successful as an employee. This question does just that.
6. What are Some Challenges Facing the Company?
You deserve to know what you’re getting into. By asking this question, you can prepare yourself for the future and know what to expect if you receive a job offer.
7. What Encourages Current Employees to Stay?
Although this is a simple question, it gives you information on several aspects of the company. You can learn about the company’s culture, values, and how you’ll fit in with others.
8. Can You Give More Details on the Day-to-Day Responsibilities for the Role?
If you only ask about the job duties, you’ll make it seem like you haven’t actually read the job description. By asking the interviewer to elaborate, you make it clear that you want a full understanding of the job description.
9. Who Would I be Reporting to, and Will I Meet Them?
The answer to this question isn’t always straightforward, At times, the company doesn’t disclose how many supervisors an employee will have. You also might not be meeting with any of those supervisors. Before you get a job offer, you should ask to meet the person you’re reporting to.
10. What Do You Think is the Most Difficult Aspect of the Job?
The meaning behind this question is simple. It shows the hiring manager that you’re aware there are challenges associated with the role and that you welcome them.
11. What Does Your Ideal Candidate Look Like?
With this question, you can get a better idea of whether or not you’ll receive a job offer. You’ll also be able to tell if the position is a good fit for you.
12. What Soft Skills Matter Most to this Position?
Once again, this question tells you more about the role. It also gives you a chance to bring up your soft skills to the interviewer.
13. Why Did the Person Before Me Leave the Role?
If the position isn’t new, ask about why there’s a vacancy. The hiring manager could explain why the previous person left, and this might give you some more insight into the position.
14. How Has the Position Evolved Over Time?
As time goes by, companies need to adapt. If a company doesn’t adapt, it gets left behind. You should ask this question to find out if the company is adaptable and to see what sort of changes you should explain in the future.
15. What Would You Expect from Me in the Next 30 to 60 Days?
If you don’t know what your boss expects from you, there’s no way to meet their expectations. Ask this question so you know exactly what you need to do to be successful in your role.
16. How Do You Measure Success?
Much like the previous question, this question sets you up for success. Every manager measures success in different ways, and you need an understanding of how your managers would measure your success.
17. What’s the Typical Career Path for Someone in this Position?
This question reveals whether or not the company promotes from within. If people seem to move up the organizational structure, the company promotes from within and has your interest at heart.
18. What Does the Onboarding Process Look Like?
The onboarding process varies by employer. By asking this question, you can learn more about what your first few weeks at work would look like.
How Many Questions Should You Ask?
During the interview, you shouldn’t ask all of the questions above. Instead, you should plan to ask two or three questions that mean something to you. If you ask too many questions, you risk coming across as overly concerned or arrogant.
Meanwhile, asking no questions or the wrong questions shows that you don’t have a strong interest in the job. The interview is the perfect opportunity to ask questions that make you stand out over other job applicants.
Before your interview, stop and think about what you already know about the company. Don’t ask any questions that you already know the answer to or questions that are repetitive.
Typically, two to three questions are enough to gather all the information you need and to stand out from the remaining job applicants. You can write down the questions and keep them in a notebook. Then, bring the notebook with you during the interview and refer to it if you forget the questions.