Question to ask the interviewer during interview: 38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

Questions to Ask in an Interview to Get Honest Answers

When you’re interviewing, you probably have the answers to “Tell me about yourself,” “What’s your greatest weakness?” and “Why do you want to work here?” down pat. (And if not, check out our tips here, here, and here.)

What’s the best job for you?

Use The Muse to find a job at a company with a culture you love. Select the career path that aligns with you:

Marketing

Sales

Data

Human Resources

Customer Service

Software Engineering

Product Management

Education

Design and UX

Administration

How many years of experience do you have?

0 – 1 years

1 – 5 years

5 – 10+ years

What company benefits are most important to you?

Health Insurance

Paid Vacation

Remote Work Opportunities

Dental Insurance

401k With Matching

Vision Insurance

Promote From Within

Flexible Work Hours

Personal Sick Days

Performance Bonus

Calculating your job matches. ..

It’s when you get a question that’s a little different from the norm that you have to think on your feet.

Interviewers don’t do this to be mean or throw you off (usually), but to get the real scoop. They know they’ll get a far more genuine answer and learn a lot more about you when you’re speaking off the cuff, rather than reciting something you’ve rehearsed over and over.

Well, here’s a little secret: You can use this exact same technique on your interviewer when it’s time for you to ask questions.

For example, one of the most common questions I get from interviewees is, “What are the best and most challenging parts about working here?” I have a standard response I give in return—something that, while true, is not particularly detailed or revealing.

The other day, though, a candidate posed a different question: “What was the best day and the most challenging day you’ve had in the past three months?”

Instead of reciting my script, I had to think about this. And when I answered, I know I gave him a more honest illustration of the ups and downs he could expect if joining the team.

So, if you want to get the real goods from your interviewer, try doing the same. Start with a list of the questions you want answers to (here are 51 to get you started), then think about how you can ask them in a more detailed, specific, or unusual way. Don’t go too crazy (this is a conversation, not an interrogation), but do think about how you could shift your question in a way that will get the hiring manager off script.

Here are a few ideas.

Instead Of: “What Does a Typical Day Look Like?”

This question often tends to breed the answer, “Well, there’s no real typical day…” which tells you exactly nothing. Instead, ask for a rundown of a real workday in the past (or future), such as, “What did the person who currently holds this role do yesterday?” or “If I was a month into the job, what would my day look like today?”

Instead Of: “What Are the Biggest Challenges Someone in This Position Would Face?”

“Tough clients. ” “Resources.” Hiring managers don’t like to scare candidates away, so when they talk about challenges, they tend to couch them in vague terms like these. So, try asking about specific challenges or a specific number of challenges. Think, “Can you tell me about the most difficult client situation you’ve faced in the last six months?” or “What are the two biggest challenges the department is dealing with right now?”

Instead Of: “What’s the Company Culture Like?”

Asking about company culture can get you anything from a list of pretty meaningless adjectives (“innovative,” “collaborative,” “focused”) to a description of the company break room. To get the results that matter to you, think about the parts of culture you most value. Do you want a team that plays as hard as it works? Ask, “Tell me about the last few team bonding events that were held.” Concerned about a competitive environment? Ask, “What motivated employees to reach their goals last quarter?” And if you are looking for more of a broad overview, try, “What’s different about working here than about anywhere else you’ve worked?” which will get you a much more meaningful description.

Good interviewers know how to get honest answers, not canned responses, which helps them figure out who’s really going to be the right fit for the team. So steal their techniques to make sure the company and role is the perfect one for you.

Adrian Granzella Larssen was The Muse’s first employee and editor-in-chief who built the content team from the ground up. Now, she’s the founder of Society, a creative content studio partnering with world-class brands to create content that enriches people’s lives. Her work and business advice has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Harper’s Bazaar, Real Simple, Entrepreneur, Money, and more. She’s also the author of Your Year Off, a digital guide to taking a sabbatical and traveling the world.

More from Adrian Granzella Larssen

5 Questions to Ask at the End of a Job Interview

What’s the best job for you?

Use The Muse to find a job at a company with a culture you love. Select the career path that aligns with you:

Marketing

Sales

Data

Human Resources

Customer Service

Software Engineering

Product Management

Education

Design and UX

Administration

How many years of experience do you have?

0 – 1 years

1 – 5 years

5 – 10+ years

What company benefits are most important to you?

Health Insurance

Paid Vacation

Remote Work Opportunities

Dental Insurance

401k With Matching

Vision Insurance

Promote From Within

Flexible Work Hours

Personal Sick Days

Performance Bonus

Calculating your job matches. ..

“Remember, you’re interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you. Ask your own (good) questions to get a feel for if you truly want to work there.”

But are you digesting this—and doing it—every time you meet with a hiring manager? If you’re not, you’re missing out on an important opportunity to dig in and really get a feel for what’s going on at your potential next employer. You’re also squandering an opportunity to demonstrate fully your preparedness, confidence, and complete non-desperation (which is always an attractive trait to hiring managers).

So, what are some great questions you can ask in your next interview? Here are five brilliant ones that, truthfully, may not be fully answered but will still likely provide you with some solid, fruitful information about your potential next boss, team, and organization.

1. Is This a Vacancy, or a New Position (and, if It’s a Vacancy, What’s Up)?

I worked with a client a few months ago who was a finalist for a VP of Sales & Marketing job at a profitable, admired company. He was, he believed, very close to having an offer in hand. And then he learned that, in the space of three years, this company had three other leaders in this same role. As in, they were looking to hire their fourth VP of Sales & Marketing since 2013.

This presented quite a conundrum for my client. He’d been so excited about the opportunity, and flattered to be this far along in the interview process. But discovering the revolving door of leadership going on stopped him in his tracks. And it should have. That kind of turnover is a sure sign that something’s up, probably starting at the top of the organization.

This client didn’t ask during the early interview stages why the position was open. But he should have. It’s a completely fair question and, even if it’s not answered in depth, you can almost always tell by the “squirm factor” of the interviewer if there’s more to the story or not.

He did get the offer, by the way. And ultimately declined. Today, he heads up sales for a smaller firm with amazing, supportive, and inclusive leaders. And the organization’s turnover? It’s almost non-existent.

2. What Is the Turnover Rate on the Team (or, at This Organization)?

Speaking of turnover. It’s fair for you to ask about this. If you ask it in a confident and non-accusatory manner, it’s also going to demonstrate that you are one who makes decisions strategically, and with care. And any good employer will respect that about you.

If, when you ask, you learn that turnover is uncomfortably or unusually high, you should then ask (again, in a way that doesn’t make the interviewer feel like you’re attacking), “To what do you attribute this number?” and “Does the organization have any plans or strategies in place to help alleviate this?”

High turnover, even in industries that commonly have a decent amount of churn, could point to issues with management, a super stressful work environment, a lack of employee recognition, crappy raises, or all of the above.

3. Do Team Members Typically Go Out for Lunch, or Do They Eat at Their Desks?

This isn’t a weird question, and you can ask it in a way that comes across as you trying to get a feel for how friendly and connected your team is (or isn’t), or how relaxed the environment is (or isn’t). But, assuming the interviewer is up front with his or her answer, here’s what else you’ll be able to ascertain: Are these people overworked to the point that they can’t keep up without working through lunch hours? (And, will your future manager expect you to follow suit?)

Teams whose members never take breaks are typically tired, unhappy teams. Sleuth this one out, especially if you’re not one who enjoys being chained to your desk for several hours straight every day.

4. How Is the Company Doing (From a Financial Perspective)?

Oh, if I had a dollar for every client I’ve worked with who lost his or her job abruptly (sometimes, very soon after accepting the offer) as a result of crumbling profits, loss of a big client or a sudden bankruptcy—that the new hire had no idea about before coming on board.

Guys, it’s absolutely OK (and important) to ask for a proverbial peek into the books as you progress through the interview process—even if the company is privately held (or a mom-and-pop shop). In fact, it’s especially important to ask if the company’s financial information isn’t readily available via a Google search.

The last thing you want is to unwittingly be the “Hail Mary hire,” whose presence is the make-it-or-break-it, last ditch effort to dig out of a perilous situation. Certainly, you may decide that it’s a challenge (and risk) worth taking on. But maybe not.

No matter what, getting a feel for the financial health of a company is so important to have, before you dive in.

5. After This Conversation, Do You Have Any Hesitations About My Qualifications?

This is such a scary question for most people, because they’re fearful that the answer might be yes. But it’s an important question to ask because, if there are any hesitations on the part of the interviewer, you pretty much have no better shot at clarifying or allaying their concerns than while you’re still sitting in the interview.

If you’re terrified about asking this question, consider this: If something about you is giving the interviewer pause, and you don’t ask about it, he or she is going to make hiring decisions with this or these concerns factored in. Given this, you almost always have much more to gain than lose by asking.

As you progress through a job search or career transition, you’ve got to continually remind yourself to steer. Steer the boat. Steer the direction. Steer the interview. No one cares more about your finding a great new job (or wonderful organization to represent) than you.

Curate your career. Ask the interview questions that need to be asked. Be your own best advocate.

And then enjoy the spoils as you settle into that great new job.

Photo of interview courtesy of GlobalStock/Getty Images.

52 Interview Questions / Sudo Null IT News

You probably already know that an interview is not just another stage in applying for a job, it is also your opportunity to find out if this job is right for you. To do this, it is important to ask some questions. What do you want to know about this position? About company? About the division? About the team? About corporate culture?

Asking questions can be difficult. We know it. To make this task easier for you, we have provided a list of key interview questions. We definitely do not recommend asking them all. Pity the recruiter!

When at the end of an interview, or part of it, you are asked, “So, do you have any questions for us?”, be sure to use this list (try to remember) to make sure that you covered all the points of interest to you and showed your professionalism.

// Job in general

First make sure that this is what you want to do every day for the foreseeable future.

1. What does a typical working day look like?

2. What are the projects that need to be dealt with first?

3. Can you show me some examples of projects I will be working on?

4. What skills and experience are you looking for in an ideal candidate?

5. What does it take to be truly successful in this position?

6. What kinds of skills are missing from the team that you want to acquire by hiring a new employee?

7. What are the biggest challenges a person in this position will face?

8. What is the budget level I have to work with?

9. Is this a new role in the company?

10. Do you expect that the main responsibilities for this position will change in the next six months or a year?

// Training and professional development

Think of each new job not just as a job, but as the next step on your path to career (or any other) success. How will this position help you achieve it?

11. How will I study?

12. What training programs are available for your employees?

13. What are the opportunities for career growth and professional development?

14. Will I be able to represent the company at industry conferences?

15. Where did the previous employee who previously held this position go?

16. How did successful employees who previously held this position progress?

// Evaluation of your work

Make sure you understand what your goals will be and how your work will be evaluated.

17. What are the most important things you think I will have to do in my first 30, 60 and 90 days of work?

18. What results are expected from a person in this position during the first 12 months?

19. Tell us about the system for evaluating the performance of employees in the company. How often does this process take place?

20. How will my performance be measured?

// Interviewer

By asking questions to the interviewer, you show that you are interested in him as a person, and this is a great way to establish contact. Just give without compliments and flattery.

21. How long have you been with this company?

22. How has your role changed since then?

23. What did you do before this job?

24. Why did you join this company?

25. What do you like most about working here?

// The company as a whole

You don’t just work for your boss or your department, you work for and with the whole company.

26. I read about how the company was founded, but would be grateful if you could tell me more?

27. How do you see this company in the next few years?

28. What can you tell me about your new products and/or growth plans?

29. What are the main goals of the company at the moment and how is it working to achieve them?

30. What inspires you the most about the company’s future?

// The Team

The people you work with on a day-to-day basis can really affect your performance, your desire to get up in the morning, and even your efficiency. Ask a few questions to determine if this is the right team for you.

31. Can you tell me about the team I will be working with?

32. Who will I work with most closely?

33. To whom will I report directly?

34. Can you tell me about my direct reports? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

35. Do you plan to hire more people in this division in the next six months?

36. With which departments of the company will you interact most often?

37. What are the general career prospects in this unit?

// Culture

Is there a dress code in the office or not? Is there life outside the office? etc. Learn the subtle yet important details of corporate culture.

38. What is the culture of the company in general and the team in particular? What are the main aspects that you can highlight?

39. How would you describe the work environment here, is it usually team work or solo work?

40. Can you tell me about your last team event?

41. What is the company’s mission and values? (Note: make sure this information can’t be “googled” – if that’s the case, don’t ask this question.)

42. What is your favorite office tradition?

43. What do you usually do during your lunch break? (Of course, in addition to the lunch itself).

44. Do company/team employees meet outside the office?

45. Have you ever organized joint events with other companies or departments?

46. What makes working here different from other places you have worked?

47. How has the company changed since you joined?

// Next Steps

Make sure the interviewer has all the information they need before leaving. In order to find out how events will develop further, ask these questions.

48. How do you think I am qualified for this role?

49. What are the next steps in the application process for this position?

50. What else might I need?

51. Can I answer any other questions you may have?

52. Guys, I came up with so many questions! When can I get started?

Questions that may throw you off during an interview can be found here. And be ready!

6 Questions to Ask in Every Interview – The-Femme

You’ve done a lot of research to make sure you know more than enough about the company. You have chosen the perfect outfit for the interview. You even rehearsed the answers to all sorts of frequently asked interview questions.

However, when the hiring manager ends the interview by asking, “So, what questions do you have for me?” your mouth drops and your mind goes blank. You have completely neglected to prepare for this part of the interview – and now you remain either completely incompetent or completely detached and uninterested.

Don’t worry; most people have been there before. It’s easy to focus so much energy on preparing for the questions you’re going to be asked that you completely forget to come up with some smart questions you can ask the interviewer at the end of the meeting.

Do you have an interview you are preparing for? Here are six questions to ask during an interview. Not only will they make you look informed, prepared, and fully focused, but they will also save you from that terrifying, wide-eyed moment of panic.

1. What does a typical day look like for an employee in this position?

You already have an understanding of what this position entails after reading the job description (at least it should). But it’s important to remember that a formal description doesn’t tell you much. Often these paragraphs are revised year after year but never updated to reflect personnel changes, job changes, technology upgrades, and other factors.

So, to get insider information, it’s definitely a good idea to ask your interviewer what tasks you can expect to do on a daily basis. This will give you a better idea of ​​the actual responsibilities of the position, as well as how the company, department, and members of its team work as a whole.

2. Who will I work with directly?

You probably already know who you will report directly to – he or she is most likely in the interview room with you. But since your relationships with co-workers can have quite a big impact on your life, you may want to know more than just the person you’ll be working for. You want to know about the team members you will be working with.

This is your opportunity to learn more about how this role fits into the big picture. Should this position require you to communicate and interact across multiple departments? Or would you just work with your particular team to get things done?

You can also use this prompt as a launching pad for several follow-up questions: How big is the team currently? Is she growing fast? What is the experience of other employees?

Take this opportunity to learn more about the organization’s current staff. It will show you how all the pieces of the company puzzle fit together and help you determine if the position is right for you.

3. What is the most important skill that a person who wants to be successful in this position should have?

Let’s face it, most job descriptions are about unicorns. Of course, an employer might be looking for a candidate who is a Photoshop master and creative writer who can also juggle handstands. But what are their chances of finding this person? They are insignificant – and they already know it.

So instead of focusing on what qualities and skills you don’t have, focus on what the interviewer thinks is the most important thing you’ll need to succeed in this position.

Asking about this will help you sort out all the mess in the job description, as well as determine how well you can actually perform your duties. After all, if they end up looking for someone who is bilingual and you’re having a hard time remembering the alphabet from your high school Spanish class, this might not be the job for you.

4. What do you like most about working here?

Work is a huge part of your life, so ideally you want to love what you do. And while other people’s experiences aren’t always a completely accurate prediction of what your own will be, it’s definitely a good question to ask.

Ask your interviewer what he likes most about working for the company. If he/she can’t stop ranting and raving about dozens of different things she likes about her employer? Well, that’s probably a good sign.

But if she stops for a minute just to say, “Well, we have pretty good health insurance,” that could be a red flag for you.

Employee attitudes can be contagious. So, if you have to work with a group of people who would always rather be somewhere else, it can have a huge impact on how you look at your work. By asking this question, you will evaluate your level of satisfaction and happiness with the employer – which will be important if you end up accepting this job!

5. How would you describe the culture of this company?

We all know that interviews are mainly for employers to determine if you are a good fit for their organization. But you should also treat it as your opportunity to find out if the company and position are right for you.

Culture has become a buzzword, but is still an incredibly important part of your work experience. (And you don’t need me to tell you that culture can vary greatly from employer to employer.)

Ask your interviewer for a brief description of the corporate culture. Can she describe her as warm, reassuring and family friendly?

Pay close attention to the words your interviewer uses to better understand what qualities the organization values. If she says words like “fast” and “on time” and you’re someone who needs to breathe into a paper bag at the thought of tight deadlines, you may need to reassess the situation.

6. What are the next steps in the interview process?

Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar: you walk out of the interview and get into your car feeling like you just got through this meeting. Suddenly you are struck by the thought: you have no idea what will happen next. You forgot to ask about it. Will there be another round of interviews or is that all? Will the interviewer call you? Will she email you? Will she send a dove?

Interviews cause enough anxiety. So, before you shake hands and leave the office, make sure you ask what to expect next.

This will not only help calm your nerves (and probably inspire you to make sure you update your email next week), but it will also show your level of interest in the position and the whole process.

An interview can be stressful, but it will be easier to manage if you prepare properly.