Preparing Strong Questions to End an Interview

This article was originally featured on Levo League

The interview is winding down. You’re feeling pretty good about the conversation so far and then it happens, “Do you have any questions for me?” they ask.  Oh, the phrase that can strike terror in the heart of interviewees. If you've done your research, there are a few questions that you might already have, whether it be about the organizational structure or business model, type of work or management style. But nothing sticks out better in the mind of interviewers than a few polished, intelligent questions at the end of an interview. 

If you’re ending an interview with, “No, I have no other questions” you’re missing out on not only a chance to make a real memorable impact but also the opportunity to really learn more about the role, the interviewer, company, management style and more.

One thing we often forget is that we need to be interviewing the company just like they’re interviewing us.

Here is a list of some great interview questions you can ask.

Photo Via Levo League

What is a day in the life of this role like?

This is an opportunity to get into what the day-to-day responsibilities and expectations of the role. Be sure you understand the scope of what they’re asking, and what they’re expecting from this role.

What are the most important things (or key goals) that this role should focus on in the first 30 days to one year of employment?

One thing you want to do in an interview is illustrate that you are invested in this role and focused on what benefit you can bring to the company versus what the company can do to benefit you.

What are the 1 year and/or 5 year goals for the organization? And how do you see someone in this role supporting those goals?

Asking this question has always been a hit in my experience. It really gives them a chance to talk about where they are planning to grow the business and help you get a road map for where that role could be headed in a year or five years. This also gives you a chance to brainstorm how to support the goals and support their plans for growth.

What are the qualities of someone who excels at this role? Or what are the qualities of the person you’re looking to hire that will be successful in this role?

Giving them an opportunity to explain their “ideal employee” helps you understand what they’re really looking for in an employee and can give you clues about the company and team culture, as well as paving the way for success in this role with an understanding of what their expectations are right away.

What are the success metrics for this job?

Having them define what success is in this role, and within the company, is invaluable information for you to decide if this is a place you would want to work and feel that you would bring value and be successful. If you do get the job, you’ll want to know what they’re looking for when it comes review time.

What are some of the challenges that this role will face?

From this question, you can start to identify the problems that you’re walking into with this role, but it also gives you a chance to start to brainstorm solutions for the problem and knock their socks off.

Can you give me an example of “Stretch Projects” within the organization?

Along the same lines as asking about your career path, asking what other projects you can take on may open the door to conversation about future opportunities with the company. While illustrating that you’re not only engaged in your primary role, but you're also interested in developing your skills and supporting the company.

What is the career path for this role within the company?

Employers want to know that you’re someone that will be committed for the long haul, and learning to grown within the company. This also shows that you’re ambitious and want to grow. Although, be careful to not focus too much attention on the “next role after this one” in the interview. They might not want to re-hire again in a year if you try to get promoted in the company. This is an opportunity to you can feel them out  and find a good balance.

What do you like the most about working here?

Judging from their response, how swiftly they respond and how excited they are, or aren't, can help you decide if it’s a place you’d like to work as well. It could also be an opportunity to get even more excited about a role you like.

What is the organizations management style?

Getting a little insight into how the boss and management operate will help you discern if that style is conducive to what you’re looking for and how you best work.

What is the team culture?

You should be able to gather the company culture from your research prior to the interview, but asking about the team culture can give you a little more insight into what the day-to-day will be like.

Do you have any reservations about my fit for this role?

This can be a very scary question to ask, especially if it’s a role that you really want and you aren’t sure how the interview is going from the vantage point of the interviewer. But, this is an opportunity to gain incredibly valuable feedback from the hiring manager about how they see you as a fit for this role. It also gives you a chance to speak directly to any reservations they might have about you and to dispel any concerns.

What are the best interview questions you have heard or asked?