At the end of most interviews, candidates are typically given an opportunity to ask questions. This is your moment to differentiate yourself as a candidate, so be prepared. Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates your interest in the role, your engagement in the hiring process, and your enthusiasm for joining the company.
Some interviewers weigh the quality of your questions when deciding whether to move you forward in the process. Having no questions can make you appear uninterested, unprepared, or even arrogant. To avoid leaving an interviewer with a negative impression, prepare 3-5 meaningful questions.
Take some time before your interview to reflect on what you genuinely want to know about the company, position, and team. Avoid asking questions that are easily answered on the company’s website or in the job description. Similarly, steer clear of “me” questions that focus solely on your personal gain.
Throughout the interview, be prepared to explain how your talents link to the position. Use the Value Bridge to Ace Your Interviews.
Pro Tip:
Ask clarifying questions throughout the interview when appropriate. This approach helps build rapport, prevents misunderstandings, and allows you to answer more thoroughly and tailor your responses to better align with the interviewer’s priorities.
How to Generate Thoughtful Questions
- Research the Company
Conduct in-depth research to understand the company’s mission, goals, culture, and activities. Use this information to formulate insightful and specific questions.
- Review the company’s website and press releases for recent announcements or projects.
- Know how the company’s mission and values align with your personal values.
- Use search engines to read about recent company news or industry trends to gain context on current challenges and opportunities.
- Explore the company’s social media accounts to understand its priorities and brand personality.
- If publicly available, review financial statements to gain insight into the company’s growth and performance.
- Familiarize yourself with the company’s leadership, such as the C-suite executives and their roles.
- Network with alumni or current employees, leveraging platforms such as LinkedIn to gather insider insights.
- Research your interviewer on LinkedIn to learn about their background, role, and any shared interests or connections. This step shows the interviewer you are genuinely interested in the company, are skilled at making professional networking connections, and you have prepared.
- Examine the Role and Its Place in the Company
As you review the job description, identify areas where you need more clarity or details about the responsibilities. Use these insights to ask specific, role-focused questions.
- What processes, workflows, or methodologies are central to the role?
- How does the role contribute to the company’s overall goals and success metrics?
- What tools, technologies, or software does the team use, and how might you leverage your expertise with them?
- What does success look like in this role during the first 30, 60, 90 days or the first year?
- How does the team collaborate with other departments, and what role would you play in those interactions?
A Strong Finish
If the interviewer does not explain the next steps in the hiring process, be sure to ask. Asking about the next steps will confirm your interest and proactive approach to communication. For example:
“I’m excited about this position because my experience querying, aggregating, and joining data tables for workflows aligns with your strategic plan to maximum efficiency in a highly technical world. Would you share your timeline for filling this position and the next steps in the process?”
Ending the conversation with confidence and enthusiasm underscores your interest and positions you as someone eager to move forward
