It's Okay to Ask Questions
Interviews are two-way streets, and interviewers don’t always give you the opportunity to highlight your strengths in the way that you want. At the end of the interview, answering “Do you have any questions for me?” with a simple “No” can be seen as a lack of interest in the position or company. Asking questions already answered in the job description can be seen as a lack of attention to detail. So prepare ahead of time by re-reading the job description, researching the interviewer on Linkedin, and diving deep into any news articles or content from the company website to familiarize yourself with their mission, current projects, and potential challenges. Here are my top questions from years of interviews, along with some tips on how to use them at your next interview.
What is something the person in this role (previously in this role) does exceptionally well that you want to see continued with the new hire?
Asking this question gives you an opportunity to add to what the interviewer shares. For example, if they tell you that one of the qualities they value for the person in this role is the ability to work cross-functionally with executives, you can follow up by sharing your experience doing just that. If an interviewer has questions about your ability to communicate up the ladder, this is your chance to clear the confusion. Your answer to this question also highlights your ability to lead, communicate, and build relationships.
What are your expectations for the new hire in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
Asking this question gives you a better understanding of the position and allows you an opportunity to share any related experience. For example, if they share that in the first 30 days, you are expected to manage 25 accounts on your own, you can reply with “This will not be a problem as I currently handle 125 accounts and I was handling 45 accounts in the first 30 days at my current company.”
What projects are you currently working on where you are experiencing pain points?
Asking this question allows you the opportunity to further deepen your connection with the interviewer and share insights on similar experiences you have worked through or how you would tackle these pain points and remove those roadblocks.
Questions to Avoid
Any questions answered in the job description.
Questions like pay, job duties, and hours are typically answered in the job posting and should not be asked during a job interview. Asking a question that is already answered makes it seem like you haven’t done your due diligence before applying for the job.
Any questions that are subjective.
Questions like “What is the culture like?” or “How do you like working here?” have too high of a probability of not being answered honestly. It’s better to look up company reviews and then pose a question such as “I noticed on Glassdoor that there are several complaints about the work-life balance, I’m wondering if you can tell me if these complaints tend to fall within a particular department or under a certain manager, and what the company is doing to address these concerns?”
Keep in mind these questions are reserved more for the hiring manager, as a recruiter will not know the answers to these specific questions. For recruiters, appropriate questions would be around what the interview process looks like and timeframes.
