So, you’ve made it through the interview. Phew, you think. The hard part is over. But then the interviewer asks the dreaded question: “So, what questions do you have for us?” Well, stress no more, because I’ve outlined 3 things to help you formulate questions that impress even the best interviewers and help YOU decide if it’s the job for you. As someone who just accepted my dream job in Washington D.C., I can tell you that if these tricks worked for me, they can work for you too.
Make questions specific to the job you are interviewing for.
- These questions demonstrate that you’ve read the job description. They also help you better envision what your life would be like in this role.
- These questions should be unique to this specific role, not cliches that you could have asked any interviewer for any role.
- Example: Instead of asking “What does a typical day look like in this role?” ask: “I see x, y, and z responsibilities are highlighted. Do you weigh these equally in priority, or do you expect that one or two of these responsibilities will require more time or attention?”
Phrase questions so that the interviewer has an opportunity to expand on ideas, not just answer a simple “yes” or “no.”
- This allows you to have a real conversation with the interviewer, and to learn more about the role or their team from their answers.
- Example: Instead of asking “Does the person hired need to be able to start immediately?” ask: “Is it important for your team that the person hired be able to start as soon as possible, or have you identified a different timeline?”
Ask questions that might reveal something about the company’s culture, team dynamics, etc.
- Don’t forget, you want to know if this is a place you want to work for!
- Examples: Can you tell me how the person in this role will add or contribute to the dynamic of the team? What type of person/worker will fit well with the team and contribute to the dynamic already in place? How does your team handle mistakes? What are ways that you promote growth, whether personal or professional, for those on your team?
- You can ask the interviewer to expand on specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. For example: “I see that one of the responsibilities is x. Will you tell me more about that or what that might look like for the person in this role on a day-to-day basis?”
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