A deceptively simple question, upon which so much rests… “Do you have any questions?” your interviewer inquires, and you stumble, stutter, and mumble your way to say, “No,” and leave as quickly as possible.
Not being prepared for this question, or worse, avoiding it, shows a lack of interest in the job and company. This is the last thing you want to convey to your possible future employer, so always be sure to prepare in advance for this question.
Questions to Ask About the Company
It’s important to learn the company culture as soon as possible. Some companies are very formal, not allowing much time for chitchat and requiring everyone to adhere to a strict dress code. Others are casual, and employees are able to wear blue jeans and sweatshirts everyday. Most fall somewhere in between, and depending on your personality style, you may or may not be comfortable with this.
Inquire about the dress code and company culture, ask whether the office is typically noisy and chatty or quiet and focused.
Finally, ask whether the company has plans to expand, or if there are any plans for a takeover, for instance. This shows an active interest in the growth and direction of the company.
Questions to Ask About the Position
You should ask about the amount of overtime typically required, what your work day will typically look like, and for details about your department. Get to know what the department is like, how supervision is structured, and whether you will be part of a team or expected to work mostly on your own.
You might also want to ask about the performance review policy and how this affects pay raises — whether there are cost of living increases or merit increases, for instance.
Training is another important thing to find out about. Will you train on the job, have an orientation session with other employees, or be assigned a mentor or a training program to follow? A company without training policies could either be small and have problems with employee qualifications and efficiency or perhaps have grown a lot recently.
You may also wish to ask the interviewer how long he or she has worked there, and for an opinion on the positives and negatives of the company. (Don’t press too much for details about the negatives, but listen carefully to what they might really be saying.)
Final Questions
If you have been called back for a return interview or two (in other words, you’re near the end of the interview process), you can bring up salary, vacation, and benefits, but if this is your first interview, avoid discussing salary issues for now. You might also wish to ask when you can expect to hear back about the hiring decision.
Asking the right questions at an interview makes you seem well prepared and put together, interested and enthusiastic, and overall likeable. Be tactful and don’t push for information that you sense your interviewer is reluctant to share, but find out as much as you can in advance and you’ll increase the likelihood both you and your new company will be satisfied with the hiring decision!