While you are heading towards the interview closure, the interviewer may ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” This question is commonly asked in the interview and is considered an important part of the conversation.
You may think that politely rejecting the offer is good. But the interviewer may get the impression that you were not interested in the conversation or the position and don’t bother to ask anything.
You may feel you have covered everything in the interview, and this job is perfect for you, so there is no need to ask anything. Still, it is recommended to respond with a reasonable question. The interviewer will understand that you are enthusiastic about the position and want to learn about it.
Here, we have given some tips on what you should ask and what to avoid while your interview draws towards closure
Think up in advance for the questions
Since you will be asked this question, preparing is the best choice. You should keep in mind these things:
- Research the company’s history, mission, and values. Read some recent articles about the company and use this information to formulate your questions. This tactic will be well-received by interviewers as it shows your sincerity and eagerness to know more about the company.
- Don’t rely only on three or four questions as they might be covered during the interview. Preparing a list of up to 10 questions will help you tackle the situation perfectly.
- Keep this list with you in the notebook or portfolio and bring it to the interview. Refer to the list while asking questions.
- Ask at least 2 or 3 questions that you didn’t cover in the discussion.
- Choose the questions that help you know more about the position and show your interest in the conversation.
What kind of questions should you ask?
Here are some of the questions that are appropriate to be asked:
About the position
You can ask questions that would help you learn more about the position you are trying to enroll. Such questions include:
- Would you like to share the day-to-day responsibilities of this position?
- What would you say about the typical day work pace?
- Suppose I have been hired for this position; what expectations do you have from me? Or what you want me to achieve in the first month?
- What is the company’s mechanism to evaluate performance?
About the company
You can ask about the company to know its culture better. The appropriate questions are:
- What would you say about the management style of the company?
- Do you want to share anything about the company’s culture?
- What is the greatest challenge faced by the company?
About yourself
Use the last moments of the interview to know what interviewers have perceived about you. You can get a clue on whether you are a good candidate for the position or not. Ask something like:
- What additional skills do I need for this position?
- Are there any concerns about my candidacy?
- What do you think about my qualifications for this position?
Follow up the questioning segment with a “thank you” note.
➡LEARN MORE: The Correct Way to Write an Interview “Thank You” Email
Questions that you should avoid
While we prompt you to ask your interviewer at the end, there are certain things that you should avoid asking:
- Never ask about non-work activities like outings, dinners, vacations, etc.
- Don’t ask how many hours you have to work daily
- Never ask the interviewers about their personal life such as family, living situation.
- Don’t gossip on people you both know
- If you can find an answer to a question by simply searching online, there is no need to waste time on such questions
- Being in the first round interview, asking about salary and benefits is not a wise act
- Don’t overwhelm the interviewers by asking multi-part questions at a time. Ask only one question at a time