When interviewing at a company, typically the last question asked will be a variant of “Do you have any questions for me or about the company?” If you’ve done your research and feel confident you know everything about the position, you may be tempted to say no, but the questions you ask are crucial to the interview. Having no questions can portray an apathetic attitude, even if you are excited about the position. Here are a few ideas that should work even after your interview and preliminary research.
How did you come to this position? What is your background?
If the interviewer hasn’t explained much of their background, feel free to ask about them. This works particularly well if they are in the same area that you would be in or if their title is a goal of your career trajectory.
What does the average day look like for a person in this position?
This question shows your interest in the position. The answer should give you a good idea of how your qualifications fit into the position. Remember that the interview is meant to help you decide if you like the company as much as the employer is trying to determine if you are a fit. Don’t be afraid to ask more details about the position so you can judge whether or not it’ll work with you.
What is your favorite thing about working for this company?
This is a great question to learn a little more about the company’s culture as well as your interviewer. Try and gauge whether or not you’d be a good fit within the company through you interviewer’s response – this question is similar to the above.
Can you tell me how this position fits into the structure of the company?
This question shows your interest in the company overall. How is management set up? How many people are under your boss? Your boss’s boss? Finding out that position’s value within the company can also give you a good idea of how much responsibility it entails.
What is the typical career path for this position?
Asking about the career progression shows that you are interested in the long haul. Be careful in how you ask this question, however – you don’t want to indicate that you’d be unhappy at the current level! Try to get a feel for what people tend to do after the position in question.
With any of these interview questions, remember to approach it from the angle of finding out more information to see if it’s a good fit for both you and the company.