Asking good questions in an interview is the perfect way to demonstrate your interest in a position. Your request for more information will show commitment, evidence of company research and confidence in your workplace skills. This article outlines the best questions to ask in an interview.
Before a job interview draws to a close, one of the final questions you will be asked is if you have any questions for the panel. As well as providing an opportunity for you to clarify any information from the job description and interview, this question allows you to build rapport with the interviewers and remind them why you are the best candidate for the job.
Having a list of pre-written questions is essential, as it shows an interviewer that you are both organised and committed. We recommend preparing at least five questions, as it’s likely that the panel will answer some of these earlier on in the interview process.
Which questions should I ask at the end of an interview?
Now that we have discussed the benefits and importance of asking questions in an interview, it’s time to consider which topics to talk about. To help you get started, we have highlighted five key areas and prepared a selection of questions for you to choose from.
1. Job role and responsibilities
Asking more about the role and day to day responsibilities will help you to understand if the job is the right opportunity for you at the time of interviewing. It will allow you to determine if the role interests you and meets your expectations, as well as providing an opportunity to clarify any points from the job description.
- What does a typical day look like in the role?
- How did this role become available?
- Which projects will the successful candidate work on initially?
2. Team, department and structure
Learning more about the team structure can help you to identify where the boundaries of the role are, and where the potential for career progression sits within the team. Furthermore, understanding who you will be working with on a regular basis will help you to benchmark the level of responsibility that comes with the role, as well as pointing out the different specialists that you will have a chance to learn from.
- Please can you tell me more about the team and department?
- Which members of the team and company will the post holder work with on a regular basis?
- What are the department’s biggest challenges at the moment?
3. Company culture and vision
For the best chance of success in a job role, both your values and the company’s values should align. The response to these questions should provide a reasonable insight to the company’s culture, whether it’s how late employees typically work until or if there is a social element and a supportive working environment. Asking about the vision will help you to determine if you are excited about where the company is headed, and if it’s a journey that you could see yourself excelling on.
- Please can you tell me more about the company culture
- What are the company’s long-term goals and ambitions?
- What does success look like here and how would the post holder contribute to it?
4. Career development potential
Questions about career development and training will show an employer that you are serious about joining the company and committed to advancing your skills and adding value. Finding out more about the career paths of other team members, past and present, is a great way to learn more about the opportunities available to you in the future.
- What does a typical career path look like for a member of the team?
- Please can you tell me more about the training opportunities?
- Please can you tell me more about the career development opportunities?
5. Your interviewer’s experience
Asking your interviewer for their perspective should yield honest feedback and provide a clear insight into their personal experience at the company. Questions like these also show your interest in the interviewer’s working life and allow you to build rapport, which is particularly important if the interview is taking place online.
- What do you like the most about working here?
- How has your career developed since starting here?
- What has contributed to your success here?
Tips for preparing your questions and common mistakes to avoid
When preparing your questions for the panel, remember that the interview is a two-way process. It’s a chance for a prospective employer to assess your suitability for a role as well as an opportunity for you to find out if the position is a good fit for you.
However, candidates should always be looking for ways to make a good impression, which makes it important to phrase your questions in a way that shows what you can offer to an employer. Always be aware of this when planning your questions and think carefully about the most appropriate way to word them. As a general rule, do not ask about the rate of pay or package at an interview, unless the employer asks you specifically about your expectations.
What is the last question that I should ask before leaving an interview?
Before leaving, the final question that you should ask is when you’re likely to hear back from the panel on the outcome of the interview. This simple question will show the interviewer that you are keen to pursue the role after meeting with the panel and learning more about the position.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, for more useful tips on how to prepare for your interview, make sure you visit the career advice section of our website.
Last updated on 13 December 2022
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