An interview provides an opportunity for the company to assess how closely your skills and experience match the role, and for you to assess whether it’s the right role and the company for you. Whilst you will have gained some insight into this during your interview, you may have things which you want to know about the role, company, department, or the team you’d be working with.

This article provides interview skills help by outlining some good questions which you can ask at the interview to elicit the answers you need, as well as outlining some questions to avoid asking your interviewer.

Do you have any questions for us?

Interviewers usually ask whether you have any questions for them towards the end of the interview. This is an opportunity to ask questions which you are genuinely interested in the answer to, which will help you to decide whether this is the right company and role for you.

Many people find that their minds go blank towards the end of the interview, so it can be helpful to prepare some questions in advance. Avoid saying “no you’ve covered everything”, as this makes it look like you’re not interested in the company or the role. It’s a good idea to ask two or three questions during the interview, so you may want to prepare five or six questions, as this enables you to drop any questions which the recruiter answers during the interview. The more questions you ask, the more interested you will look in the company and the role.

Before you start writing specific questions, it can be helpful to identify what is most important to you in your next role. A good place to start is by listing your frustrations in your current role, then writing some questions in each area.

Questions about the role

• What does a typical day in this role look like?
• What types of projects would I be working on in this role?
• What opportunities are there to…
• What career development opportunities are there?
• What kind of challenges can I expect in the role?
• Who would I be working closely with?
• Clarifying anything on the job description which wasn’t clear (e.g. acronyms, job duties etc)
  

Questions about the company

• What qualities do your most successful employees have?
• What advice would you give to a new employee starting here?
• Clarifying anything about the company you couldn’t see on their website
• When can I expect to hear from you?
  

Questions to avoid

• Avoid asking questions if you’re not genuinely interested in the answers, as this is often obvious to the recruiter and wastes time.
• Don’t ask about anything which you could have found on the company website, in the job description, or other sources, as it will look like you lack the initiative to research it.
• Avoid asking about other roles within the company, as it looks as if you’re not committed to this role.
• Don’t bring up salary unless the recruiter asks you about this, the best time to negotiate this is after a job offer. Also avoid asking about benefits such as paid sick leave or enhanced maternity leave as this suggests (possibly wrongly!) that you will be using them imminently.
• Avoid asking personal questions to the interviewer, e.g. “what has been your greatest accomplishment with the company” “what goals do you have for the next five years” “what are your hobbies and interests.” Many interviewers feel this is intrusive and irrelevant.
• Avoid asking questions to the wrong interviewer. During a multi-round interview, direct your questions to the person who is most likely to be able to answer them. Ask the manager about technical aspects of the role, ask the HR interviewer about learning and development, performance management and benefits etc. Ask the most senior interviewer about the company vision and direction.
  

Improving your Interview Skills

You may wish to read some of my other blog articles for further advice on improving your interview skills.

I also offer interview coaching sessions, personally tailored to your needs. You may wish to visit the interview coaching section of my website, where you can find more information and prices. Or you are welcome to contact me, and I’ll be pleased to discuss how I can plan a session to help you.