22 Great Questions to Ask Your Interviewer/Potential Employers In An Interview

What is an interview? It’s not just a chance for the interviewer to grill you with one tricky question after another. It’s ultimately an opportunity for you. Do you know that most interviewers prepare for your questions beforehand. Yes, that’s right – you’re supposed to ask probing questions to the interviewer about your role in the company.

This means that you have to go in with some unique questions of your own to ask the interviewer. For you to get an idea, we’ve put up a list of key questions for you to absolutely ask in an interview. We definitely don’t recommend asking all of them rapid-fire—some of this stuff will definitely be lined throughout the course of your discussion, and you can weave in other questions as you go.

“So, do you have any questions for us?”

When this part of the interview comes up use this list to learn more about your potential employer from your interviewer.

Top questions you should definitely ask an interviewer

Questions about the role you’re applying for

• What are the primary responsibilities of the position?

• What would my day-to-day course look like if I got the job?

• What can you tell me about the job role apart from what is in the description?

• What would I be expected to fulfill in my 1st year on the job?

• How is success measured for this role?

• What does it look like during the busiest and toughest days for this role?

• Would I need to relocate or travel for this position?

• What kind of hours are expected from me to perform the role?

• How many people will be working in the team I’d be joining?

Questions about the company

• What are the company’s mission, vision & core values?

• How does this position align with organizational success?

• How does the company review and reward employee performance?

• What is your work culture like?

• How does one communicate throughout the company?

• What are the perks & benefits of joining the company?

Questions about personal growth

• What kind of advancement/training opportunities are available?

• How to team leads promote growth & success?

• How is teamwork rewarded? Does everyone get an opportunity to lead?

Questions about the next steps in the recruitment process

• What’s the next step in the interview process?

• How long does your recruitment process take?

• If I were hired for the position, what would be the starting date?

• What is the on-boarding process for new hires?

^{Once you have clarified the doubts you have, you will have to pay attention to every piece of communication. You have to go back to every conversation you have had with the hiring managers and interviewers. If at all, you still have a pertinent question, and you cannot find the answer anywhere, go ahead and ask it. Just beware of asking questions that may seem like a waste of the interviewer’s time. These unnecessary questions add no value to the purpose of the interview or may negatively impact your progress}

Most of them are ‘ME’ questions, those where you put yourself before the company requirements. Typically, an unnecessary question gets called out by the interviewer and you do not get an answer. So keep it simple & straightforward. Make your intention of asking the question very clear to the interviewer in order to get a positive response. 

So, refrain from asking the following questions, and make a no-nonsense impression on your interviewer.

Never ask the following questions during an interview

• So, how was I in this interview?

• Well, did I get the job?

• When can I expect a callback?

• When do you plan on making an offer for the job?

• What does this company actually do?

• How often can I get raises?

• How often do you give out bonuses?

• How soon can I request for a holiday after you hire me?

• Did I do better than the other candidates?

• Are there candidates who are better qualified than me?

• Did any candidate answer this question correctly?

You may also want to check out our piece on 7 Common Interview Mistakes One Should Avoid

Key Takeaway

Now, that you know what can be asked and what could be avoided, it’s time to figure out your intent behind asking a question. This is based on the perception you would like to create with your interviewer. So, which of these do you want to show?

1. You’re Interested – Ask questions of the interviewer that show your enthusiasm for the position you may be given.
   
2. You’re Impressive – Ask the employer questions that are meaningful, instead of yes-no questions. Allow your questions to show them how well you have understood the requirements.
   
3. You’re Insightful – Ask the interviewer questions about the company’s vision and opportunities for the role offered. 

You can be seen as more than any one of these. It’s as simple as asking the right questions. Just don’t forget to acknowledge the answer respectfully and register it in your mental map for future reference.

If you follow these simple steps, you’ll know exactly how to end an interview. You’ll be sure to be one of the most impressive candidates the interviewer has met. And once you’re done with the interview, make sure you complete any interview with a thank-you!