The Job Interview Question That Is ALWAYS Asked: “Are there any questions that you have for us?”
Posted by jefferson on Aug 14, 2012 in Career Advice | 62 comments
I was conducting an interview at work yesterday and after talking to a candidate for about twenty minutes, it was clear that he had potential. He wasn’t lighting the world on fire with his technical knowledge, but he did have some nice accomplishments under his belt, and seemed to be capable of understanding how things connect together at a high level. We had worked our way through the standard interview questions and had reached the part of the interview where it was time to let the candidate ask the questions. I gently placed the ball on the tee:
“Are there any questions that you have for us?”
As someone who regularly conducts interviews, I find it staggering how many interviewees are not prepared for the one question that you can be absolutely certain that you will be asked. In some ways, it is the most important question of the entire interview. You would be surprised how much weight these questions really can carry. The interviewer will look at the questions that you ask as representative of your top priorities. If you just respond with, “No, I have already heard what I need to know”, then it makes you seem disinterested and complacent.
Even worse, if you ask the wrong questions, you could immediately invalidate the rest of the interview. This is exactly what happened to the interviewee from yesterday. The two questions that he chose to ask us were: ”How often are you allowed to work from home?“, and “How long do you think I would have to work on this team before being eligible for promotion?” With these responses, he unknowingly communicated that his top priorities were to avoid coming into the office as much as possible, and that he really wasn’t interested in helping our team succeed, but instead wanted to use us as a stepping stone to find something else more interesting. Unfortunately for him, this led to his resume being promptly moved into the Deleted Items box in Outlook.
The Right Way
The contrary side to all of this is that this question is actually a huge opportunity for you. If you ask the *right* questions, you can not only get as much information as possible to find out if the position is a good fit for you personally, but you can show the interviewers that you are a critical thinker and a problem solver.
The secret is to pose your questions in a way that will get those conducting the interview to talk for a few minutes, and then allow for you to respond to what they say in a way that makes you seem like the perfect fit. You should ideally have two or three questions prepared that all fit this pattern. The list below shows five great examples, with a brief discussion of how to use them. These questions will work for both phone and in person interviews.
Five Questions to Ask During An Interview:
1. What is the immediate need on your team that you are hoping to fill with this position?
This is probably my favorite question. You know that their team has a need, because they have an opening. There is most likely a project about to get started, or a required skill-set that they need but are lacking. Whatever they come back with, this is a perfect segue for you to explain why you are the perfect person to fill that gap. You can explain why your experience and expertise makes you exactly who they have been looking for.
2. What projects are available that I can contribute on right away?
One of the most frustrating things about hiring someone new is that it can take forever to get them trained and up to speed. When a candidate asks a question like this, he lets the interviewers know that he will find a way to help as soon as possible, which is a major bonus. This again gives you the opportunity to sell yourself as someone who *can* help on those projects, and as an added bonus– it lets you know what skills you need to brush up on before your next interview or even before starting the job.
3. I pride myself on my ability to drive process improvement, is this team empowered to find better and more efficient ways to do things ?
The interview process is all about differentiation, and a question like this shows the interviewers that you are determined to be a rock star. Most companies have many folks who are perfectly happy to learn how to do the basic tasks of their job, and then sit back and collect a paycheck. What they are looking for is someone who is driven to make things better, who won’t just be satisfied with the status quo. By not only identifying yourself as a big time horse, but making sure that the company will give room to graze, you are guaranteed to stand out.
4. I have been successful thus far in my career by getting regular feedback from my management, and by keeping communication channels open to make sure that we are on the same page. Can you tell me how your organization defines success?
It would be wise to save this question for the interviewing manager, and not for a peer/technical discussion. Nobody likes a kiss-up, but letting management know that you will communicate openly and honestly with them, always scores big points. The last part of the question can be a good barometer about how easy it will be to become a top performer. You can follow up with a discussion of how you have been successful in your previous jobs.
5. How would you describe a typical day on this team?
Last but not least, this question is more of an icebreaker, and should hopefully lead to some banter between you and the interviewer. If the interviewer relays struggles or frustrations, be sure to note how you will help them reduce their workload and make things better. If they respond positively, be sure to reinforce that you think it sounds like a great fit and you are excited for the opportunity to contribute.
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Whether you use one of the above examples or not, please make sure that you have SOMETHING planned for what you will say when asked this question in your next job interview. Rest assured, the question will be coming. It always is.
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“Are there any questions that you have for us?” is something I always try to be prepared in the best possible way. So before the interview, I spend a lot of time on company’s website just to be familiar with their politics, mission, future projects, etc. I try to be prepared with two or three questions. That third question, if I feel I can ask it, is “do you like your job?”. It’s obvious they won’t say “no” but maybe I can find something more about positive things that are not mentioned in the contract
I am similar. I have always prepared for these ahead of time by doing research. I don’t like being caught off guard. I think it is a great question to ask so you can get to know the company before you work there. It is really important to know what you are getting into.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..Using Kids Crafts to Teach the Gift of Giving
Doing your homework on a company before the interview is absolutely essential. Just by reading through their corp website and by checking for recent news articles, you can get a good idea of what the company is currently involved with. Bringing these points to light in the interview always scores major points.
I love this post! My university degree involved a co-op component. Since it was a business degree, we were sent out by the university to try and score co-op jobs at companies all over the country. Needless to say, with the university’s reputation on the line, they prepped the hell out of us. Interview coaching was actually a test you had to pass, and answering that question in a way that conveyed enthusiasm for the position and knowledge about the company was definitely a component of that test. It’s a very important part of the interview!
Jordann @ My Alternate Life recently posted..Debt By Numbers
I am amazed at the extent of resources that are available out there for interview preparation… With so much information to try to process, it is no wonder that candidates get so nervous.
I also like “How do you define/measure your success?” It shows you are interested in tracking and improving the organization’s successs and that metrics are important to you. I’ve had good response with that one. I’m still laughing at your interviewee…
Brian recently posted..What can you get for $10?
Yeah.. Getting a company’s vision of success is always a good one. I have also asked them to describe what makes an employee a “top performer” in their company, and then respond by aligning myself to that description as much as possible..
“How does the organization develop it’s people”, “what is your leadership style”, etc are good questions because THEY are not just interviewing YOU – you need to decide whether you would be happy working for the organization, too.
Daisy recently posted..Planning For Homebuying
Good point, Daisy. I have certainly been on interviews where I knew right away that I wasn’t a good fit. I have no interest, for example, in working for a micro-manager at this point in my career.
When I was interviewing I used to task the interviewer how he or she came to be in their current position. By default you get to see how someone moved up the chain (and can infer when they were promoted), and by playing a bit to their ego you get a checkmark at the end of the interview. Win-win!
PK recently posted..Get Over Your Irrational Fear of Risk
That is a MUCH better way to get a feel for the career path within a company culture than what yesterday’s interviewee attempted. Very nice.
lol I know I’ve totally dropped the ball on this question in the past. For some reason I had previously thought this part really was for me to get any info that wasn’t discussed. So if there wasn’t anything else I felt I needed to know I would sometimes just have nothing to ask. No wonder I didn’t get those jobs. These days I do make a point of at least asking something, but I hadn’t thought of planning the questions in such a way to reinforce my own strengths. Good tips Jeff.
Modest Money recently posted..Thoughts About Investing
Interviews are a game, and you have to play all the way through the fourth quarter (oh wait.. you are a hockey guy.. all the way through the third period).. Everything you say can and will be analyzed.
Visiting the company website prior to the interview is an absolute must for even basic preparation. I think no matter how much you prepare – you can still be caught off guard. Being honest is key rather than just making up an answer – interviewers can smell a lie a mile away.
Eddie recently posted..Sometimes You Just Can’t Win, Even When Merchants Offer a Cash Discount!
Another great point, Eddie.. A few years back, I had a phone interview that went great and I was super excited about the position.. But when I toured the office, I immediately lost all interest. It happens..
Love these questions. I interview a ton of people at my company and most of the time I get the standard (“nope,” you’ve answered all of my questions). Most of the time when I get that question I’m happy I did though because the candidate who generally asks no questions is one who doesn’t excite me….
Nick recently posted..13 things to teach your kids about credit cards
I’m with you, Nick… You reek of desperation if you aren’t the least bit interested in probing for more information.
This is primo information. I NEVER know what to ask…I do pretty well in interviews, but at this part I always end up reverting to something I already know about the company from research I’ve done before I come in. These are MUCH better.
femmefrugality recently posted..Vacation for Less: Acadia National Park
Glad I could be of help, FF
Nothing wrong with your approach either, of bringing up your research in the company.
I used to answer “I can’t think of any at this time” which didn’t get me anywhere. For my current job’s interview I asked if the last dietitian did anything that they would like to see continued or discontinued. I got to hear everyone vent about the last dietitian and was able to offer why I would be a wonderful addition to their team!
Jessica @ Budget for Health recently posted..Saving for a Vacation: Ireland expenses
Your questions is the much like the examples above, and is open-ended enough to get them talking.
Love, love, love this post, gently down the stream…
It’s so great hearing these things from people that have interviewing experience. I’ve also interviewed a few people in my day and it’s AMAZING some of the responses you get to questions (or don’t get in this case). It’s shocking how many decent applicants simply aren’t prepared to really give a great interview.
If I ever look for a job again I need to brush up on these things. I’ve been very fortunate to not have been turned down for too many jobs and I think it’s mostly because I prepare really well and am ready to sell myself and my abilities (obviously not in an obnoxious way).
WorkSaveLive recently posted..Wising Up – Students and Credit Card Debt
Thank you for the kind words… It can be amazing the things that come out the mouths of those who are trying to find work! You think they would be more prepared for such an important conversation…
Wow that’s crazy that someone would actually think those are OK questions to ask someone.
Sean @ One Smart Dollar recently posted..Get Rewarded for Saving with SaveUp
This is seriously a great post. Anyone could bookmark this post or save it to their interview folder/file and whip out these questions. Plus it will show you are are prepared.
In my past interviews, I’ve asked what are the needs, or at least I reiterate it and then ask a follow up question.
Ornella @ Moneylicious recently posted..How to Negotiate a Lower Interest Rate on Your Credit Cards
Thank you for the nice words.. I am confident that these questions will absolutely serve you well if you use them in your next interview.
Love this post! I always hated that question when I was younger, because i could never think of anything good, but lately I’ve realized it really can make or break your interview, and show the interviewers more about your capabilities and that you are a team player. Cheers!
Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses recently posted..Money Saving Tips I Learned from Watching "Say Yes to the Dress"
Absolutely.. this question should NOT be blown off, because it makes you look like that you really aren’t interested..
Great advice! I think a lot of people struggle to know what kind of questions to ask and how important it really can be to put a lot of thought into this – you’ve provided some great insights on good questions and why they’re good.
Shannon-ReadyForZero recently posted..Supercharge Your Debt Paydown with Extra Income
I think you should always practice answering common questions (including this one!) before going to an interview..
SUPERB advice. I think that’s the question that got me my job, because I asked for a detailed description of my role, who would be training me, and what expectations there were of me.
So much of the interview is “describe a situation where you blah blah blah” whereas when I find you ask an employer “ok, what do you want me to DO” they get pretty excited.
Bridget recently posted..Diversifying my income
You can really stand out from the crowd by going above and beyond to connect with the interviewers.. it sounds like that is exactly what you did!
Echoing some of the comments above, it is essential you know a bit about the company before asking questions. If you don’t know what they do or are about, how can you ask an appropriate question? Your 5 questions are great, because they help reinforce some of those keywords they put in their resume “self motivated, innovative, learns quickly, efficient”. I love this question in interviews, because I think it gives me an advantage. I prepare for the questions more than any other!
Jacob @ iheartbudgets recently posted..How To Save Money: Billing Mistakes (Part 3)
Me too Jacob.. When I interview, I absolutely look at this question as a place to hit a homerun.. And you are absolutely guaranteed that this question is coming. It always does.
I used to always ask the interviewer’s story — how’d they get there, how do they like it, what’s it like in the office?
Fun fact: I botched the tail end of a four hour interview once by asking what a typical week was like. Turns out, they didn’t want to tell me that they regularly put in 100 hour weeks.
Kathleen @ Frugal Portland recently posted..The real cost of keeping chickens
Hopefully your responded to that, Kathleen, by telling them that you were primed and ready to make things better and help solve their manpower issues.. Of course, if you didn’t immediately run screaming for the hills (which is what most people would have done)..
Nope, I didn’t catch that I’d asked the wrong question, and got a form letter rejection THREE MONTHS later.
Kathleen @ Frugal Portland recently posted..What’s the Point?
Ooohh.. I hate that.. I had a job string me along for MONTHS one time as well.. They should have to give you some feedback, positive or negative, within a week.
GREAT advice! I’m going to bookmark that article so I can go back and re-read when and if I ever get an interview!
Budget and the Beach recently posted..Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Awesome!!.. This makes me very happy.
That question totally used to throw me, but it’s a really great opportunity to drill down further into the culture, which often doesn’t really get touched on during the interview, IMO!
eemusings recently posted..In for the count: A Sydney tally and a new manifesto
Absolutely.. But remember that you are the one in the hot seat.. They already have jobs… Even as you are screening them to find out if you think their culture is a good fit, be looking for opportunities to prop yourself up.
Great article! I’m going to pass this read on to my job-seeking son.
Those are interesting questions – I never looked at that part of the interview from that lens before. I always come prepared to the interview with 2-3 questions that I want to ask about the company/organization, and usually, about the future directions that the company is planning to take. In general, I think that this shows that I have done some actual research into what the company does and am genuinely interested in working for them. But I’ve never used it as a way to talk about myself. I will have to keep this in mind for future interviews.
Earth and Money recently posted..Investing to Save the World
Remember, most everyone does a bit of research on the company before heading in. Your goal needs to be differentiate yourself so that they clearly see you as the best fit for the job. Find out what they are currently lacking, and promote yourself as the solution.
Great advice for anyone looking for a job, a client, freelance work or anything else! I was pretty shocked yesterday when I was reviewing resumes for our company and out of 32 resumes. only ONE person mentioned our company by name and went on to say he liked the company’s culture/innovation and cited specifics from our website. Nobody else even bothered to call us by name, instead saying “your company” the whole time, even though the name was right in the ad (at the bottom, but still). I gave him the highest recommendation of all of the candidates!
American Debt Project recently posted..The Best Smartphone Apps For Managing Your Finances
This is sad.. but doesn’t surprise me. The game really isn’t all that complicated, folks just need to learn how to play it.
Thanks for this post. I have to admit that this question has always stumped me. I’m glad I have some great questions to ask next time.
You’re welcome!
Wow, that guy asked the most idiotic questions I’ve ever heard. He clearly hadn’t thought through what those questions said about him. Great questions on your end. Thanks.
AverageJoe recently posted..My Favorite Quirky College Saving Strategy
The sad part is Joe… It really isn’t that unusual. More people than not actually totally botch this part of the interview..
This is great! It’s great to have a few good questions ready because they are always going to ask. Question 3 is good but DO NOT ask it unless you plan on following through. I would hate to hire someone who says that they are all about process improvement but never see them actually improve processes.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..Companies Should Embrace Work From Home
Good point, DC.. If you are one of the people who like to cruise and not work actually try to improve things.. And you score an interview with my company, please just go ahead and botch the interview entirely, because I don’t want to hire you in the first place
I always research about the company several days before interview. Fortunately, I have always worked for fortune companies, so it hasn’t been difficult to find information online. This information provides me an insight to ask questions germane to the company’s business.
Shilpan recently posted..Achieve Financial Freedom: Awesome Lessons to Spruce up Your Finances
Good to hear, Shilpan.. There is no such things as too much homework when it comes to researching before an interview.
this is a question I always asked when interviewing candidates. Not as a technique, but to give the person a chance to explore whether the opportunity we were discussing was something worthwhile for them. whether they were worthwhile for us was only half the equation.
few ever took advantage of the chance to get answers.
It has always amazed me how one sided the interview process most often is. for my part, I always had lots of questions. after all, in each case I was considering investing my energy, time, talents and the next phase of my career with the company in question. that’s not something I ever did lightly.
if they didn’t ask if I had questions, I’d bring my questions up myself.
Love these questions! Preparation, preparation, preparation is so key. It is amazing the difference in outcomes you will have if you are already ready with your questions! Of these, I like the immediate contribution question the most
Roshawn @ Watson Inc recently posted..Do Americans Know What Poverty Is?
These are fantastic questions. I tend to ask interviewers about themselves right way and find that most interviews turn into a conversation. By the time we get to this part of the interview I can ask questions about their transition to this role, management style, and whether they think I would be a great fit.
I’ve gone on interviews where the interviewers felt that I needed a role that had more human contact (I specialize in product management) and have me a different role, all because I like asking people about themselves.
Marissa @ Thirty Six Months recently posted..BlogHer 12 NYC recap.
its amazing.i think i would be bring up question my self.
Interview Questions recently posted..Interview Questions
Good job on getting on Lifehacker. I especially like the questions asking if they accept different methods of doing things. My standard MO at a job is to do it the way I was trained until I’ve got a good feel for it then see what I can do to make it better or more efficient. I tend to work under the motto of “better to ask for forgiveness than beg for permission”
Responding with “no” guarantees you will not get the job. I really like your 5 suggestions, but I would add a question that builds a relationship with the interviewer, always feel out the situation but I have asked: “Can you tell me a little more about your position in the company?”
Sean Coyne recently posted..What to Wear to an Interview: For Men
in what way we have to answer the question “what were you doing this one year free time ?”