Questions to Ask in an Interview

There comes a time in every job interview when the hiring manager asks “Do you have any questions?” This is a great chance to learn more about the position or company and to express further interest, but many candidates waste this opportunity. 

While you aren’t required to ask questions, it is best to have a few prepared. Asking questions shows that you are strongly interested in the company or the position, that you want to learn more before the interview ends, and can show that you’ve done your homework. Coming prepared with questions shows that you are fully engaged, and if you ask good questions it could win you points with the hiring team. 

Failing to ask questions in an interview can make it look like you are uninterested, unprepared, or not paying enough attention. Write down a few questions about the company before – it’s good to have extra prepared in case some are answered in the course of the interview. If you’re having trouble thinking up good questions, use our examples as a starting point. 

Questions to Ask Your Interviewer:

1. How would you describe the company culture? 
2. Why did you choose to work here? What is your favorite thing about working here? 
3. What is the history of the position? 
4. How does this position contribute to the company’s goals? 
5. How is success measured in this role? 
6. How do you provide feedback to employees? 
7. What opportunities does the company offer for learning or career development? 
8. What is the biggest challenge of this position? For the team? 
9. Do you have any questions or concerns about my qualifications? 

How would you describe the company culture? 

This is an easy, but important question to ask in any interview. If you already discussed cultural fit, this question may be redundant, but if the topic did not come up it is good to ask about the culture. Cultural fit is one of the most important factors for many candidates, and it can make or break your experience at the company. Even if the job is the perfect fit for you, a poor cultural fit can make work difficult. 

Why did you choose to work here? What is your favorite thing about working here? 

Getting your interviewer’s personal opinions on the company can teach you more about the culture and the workplace in general. Ask them what led them to this position and this company, why they chose work there, and what they enjoy about the job. This may give you more insight into company culture and employee satisfaction.

What is the history of the position? 

It is helpful to learn more about the position you’re being interviewed for. This question will tell you whether the position is new, or if someone else filled it before.

If the position is new, you can ask why it was created and what they hope to achieve with this new role. If someone else occupied it in the past, you can ask why they left. This may reveal more about employee satisfaction. If they were promoted, it shows that the company promotes internally. If the position has changed over time, you can learn more about how and why it has changed. 

How does this position contribute to the company’s goals? 

Asking how the position contributes to the company’s goals is a good way to show interest in both the position and the company as a whole. It’s helpful to know what the position contributes to the larger vision of the company and why it is important. 

This question may not be for everyone; if the answer is obvious, you may look a bit oblivious asking this question. For example, if you’re interviewing for a sales role, it’s rather obvious that your position would contribute to the company’s sales and revenue. 

How is success measured in this role? 

Learn how success is measured so that you can strive for success once hired. This is a good question to ask up front so that you can prepare to do your best. Six months or a year down the road at your review, you can plainly show what you’ve achieved in the role if you know how they measure success.

Ask what metrics they use to measure successes, what benchmarks the role is expected to achieve, and more specific questions about how to succeed in the position. 

How do you provide feedback to employees? 

This question goes hand-in-hand with the question about how success is measured. Asking about feedback is important to learn not only when and how you can expect feedback, but if the company provides that feedback regularly. Some companies, especially smaller startups, fail to implement a standard, routine system for feedback. If that’s the case, it’s good to know in advance. 

How a business provides feedback to its employees can be telling of its culture. A company with a strong culture of accountability will regularly offer good, constructive feedback. Others may not provide feedback unless you ask, which can make it difficult to assess your progress and performance. You can also learn how feedback is provided, whether it is through a one-on-one with your supervisor, through surveys, or based on quantitative metrics. 

What opportunities does the company offer for learning or career development? 

This question is beneficial for a few reasons. First, you can learn what opportunities are available to you to grow on the job. Do they provide continuing education in your field? Will you attend training seminars, workshops, or industry conferences? Do they offer any career development perks? Is there a possibility for growth within the company? These are all important questions for your career path.

On the other hand, this question shows the interviewer that you are interested in growing with the company, within your field, or as a professional in general. This may show them that you will make a good employee, focused on bettering both the company and yourself. 

What is the biggest challenge of this position? For the team? 

Every job has challenges, and it’s important to understand those challenges from the start. Ask what learning curves you may face as you enter the position as well as what the greatest challenge you’ll face in this role. Asking about the biggest challenge of your role can help you prepare to overcome that challenge. It may also help you realize that the position is not the right fit. 

You can expand this question to learn about what challenges your team or department faces, or what challenges the business as a whole is facing. Expressing interest in the business and its success shows that you want to help the company meet its goals with your help. 

Do you have any questions or concerns about my qualifications? 

This question takes some bravery, but it could win you points for being direct. Asking if the hiring manager has any concerns about your ability to fulfill the role can give you an idea of whether or not you’ll get the job. This question can also reveal how you compare to their ideal candidate. 

If you ask this question, prepare for brutal honesty – you may be underqualified. If you fall short of their ideal candidate, however, you can use their response to explain how you would overcome those shortcomings on the job. 

Final Thoughts

Use these questions in your next interview to learn more about the job and prove to the interviewer that you are engaged and interested. Don’t let the Q&A portion of your interview go to waste – ask the questions from our list or come up with your own when preparing for an interview. 

If you need help preparing for an interview, working with a recruiter can help you prepare and go in confident. For help with your job search, contact our team at TalentFleX Solutions. Our staffing professionals can help you through the hiring process, whether you’re an employer looking for the perfect candidate or a candidate on the hunt for a job.