Interview Prep Series: Over the course of several posts, we will be going through some basic interview concepts that help candidates prepare for interviews. You can see the whole series by choosing the tag "Interview Prep." Each post will go over one part of the interview preparation we do with each of our candidates.
2. Do you have any questions for me?
This question is asked at the end of nearly every job interview. It is an important to prepare to answer this one professionally while at the same time using it to your advantage – so here are the main things to consider.
First, remember that the answer is always yes! You do have questions for them! It is important to ask questions in an interview. Not asking questions can give the impression that you aren’t engaged in the conversation. Interviewers want to know that you are interested, and you can show it by asking professional questions.
Now that you’ve said yes, the kinds of questions you ask are also important. Particularly in early interviews, you want to stay away from “me” questions that focus on convenience, comfort or compensation. Me questions are all about your needs – When do I get smoke breaks? How much vacation time will I receive? How long do I get for lunch? Each of these is an example of a me question – and they are things that you can cover later in the process. The interview is about establishing that you are capable and willing to do the job and that you can fit into the company culture. Once they have determined that you are a fit, you will have the opportunity to negotiate and ask these questions.
JFK may not have been thinking about interviews with his famous line, “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” but it is a good rule of thumb in interviews. Ask not what the company can do for you, ask what you can do for the company.
Better questions will show that you’ve done your homework, and you should have a couple in mind before you get to the interview. Things like, “I see from the site that you are opening several new locations, what are the plans for growth?” You want to show your interest and knowledge. Be sure to ask about things that are somehow related your potential role in the organization. It is also absolutely OK write your questions down and bring them with you.
The best questions will come from your actual interest in the position and company. Frequently, they will arise as part of the conversation and it’s hard to have these kinds of questions prepared ahead of time. They will come up naturally. Remember, this is also your chance to interview the company – so take advantage of the opportunity!
One other point. If your interviewer has not made it clear, it is good to ask what the next steps are in the interview process. This shouldn’t be your only question, but it is definitely something you can and should ask. If you feel comfortable, you can take it a step further with something like, “Based on our conversation, do you feel like I am a fit for the role?” Again – this should not be your only question but it is definitely a strong question and, based on the response, can allow you to offer further information or clarification.
And that’s it! So to quickly recap, here are the three main points;
1. You always want to have at least one solid question to ask in response to this interview question.
2. Your questions shouldn’t be “me” questions that cover compensation, comfort or convenience.
3. Your questions should show interest and that you’ve done your research.
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