Experts in the art of job interviews generally focus on what questions you’ll be asked, but every bit as important are the questions you ask during the interview.
In fact, failing to ask any questions sends up a red flag with your interviewer, because it demonstrates either …
- you’re so desperate you’ll take any job, so therefore have no questions, or
- you aren’t that interested in the job, or
- you’re so “green” you don’t know enough to be asking questions
Obviously, you don’t want to project any of those images. So whether you’re an internal candidate being considered for a promotion, are interviewing for a lateral move within your company, or are searching for greener pastures outside your organization, you’ll want to develop a list of solid questions to take with you to the interview.
Some sample questions:
- How would you describe your corporate culture?
- What type of work atmosphere do you encourage in this department?
- What is the potential for advancement in this position?
- Has the organization experienced any major changes in the last few years? Are there any changes on the drawing board?
- What key attributes will the right person for this job have?
- What is the estimated start date for this position?
Don’t go overboard on the number of questions – you don’t want the interviewer to feel he or she is being grilled by the FBI. A handful of questions is enough, unless your interviewer was inexperienced and left out significant points you’ll need to know. Also, it’s best not to ask about benefits or salary during an initial interview.
As the interview is drawing to a close, there are a few more questions you should pose:
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Will you be conducting another round interviews?
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How soon do you plan to make your hiring decision?
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Do you prefer to contact me, or should I contact you?
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Would it be possible for me to have a tour today?
By asking questions, you’ll gain important insight into the job from the answers you receive from the interviewer – information you can use to tell the interviewer why you’re a perfect fit for the position and for the organization. Questions also indicate your interest in the job and show the interviewer that you’ve given the position considerable forethought.
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