24 Best Questions to Ask in an Interview

Job interviews are a daunting experience. Not only do you need to present the best side of yourself, but you also need to make sure you don’t look foolish when answering the interviewer’s questions about your suitability for the role.

When getting ready for an interview, candidates are so focused on preparing for common interview questions that they forget to think of a well-thought out response to the interviewer’s final query:

“Would you like to ask me any questions?”

If you struggle to come up with good questions to ask your potential employer, you’ll come off unprepared or disinterested in the role — which is not a great impression to leave in an interview.

So, how do you know what questions you should ask in a job interview?

The 24 Best Questions to Ask an Interviewer

Brainstorming good questions to ask in an interview can be a headache. You don’t want your questions to come off as rude and prying, but you also want to avoid seeming disinterested (by not asking anything at all).

We’re here to help. The career advisors and HR experts of Resume Genius have compiled a list of great questions to ask an employer in an interview, broken down by topic.

Types of Questions to Ask in an Interview:

• Questions About the Role
• Working at the Company
• Company Expectations
• Questions About the Future
• Questions About Culture
• Questions About the Hiring Process

Topic #1: Questions About the Role

Before you accept the new role, you need to know exactly what you’re taking on. Every company is different, so even if the role is the same, you may not have the same duties.

Good Interview Questions to Ask Include:

1. What will a typical day at the company look like for me?
2. What will my day-to-day responsibilities be?
3. What is the typical career path of someone in this role?
4. What is the most challenging part of this position?

Red Flags

If your interviewer dodges these questions, be careful because your employer may:

• Introduce responsibilities that are outside your job description
• Be so disorganized that they’re unclear about what your job actually entails
• Be hiding how large your workload is

Regardless of why the interviewer evades your questions, such behavior is a major sign that the work experience you signed up for will be different (or worse) than expected. Confirm what your role encompasses before you sign an employment agreement.

Topic #2: Working at the Company

When you’re thinking about whether to accept the job, consider the type of company you’d be working for and the principles driving the company.

If you’re unsure about these details, ask your interviewer, so you can decide whether you’d feel comfortable working there.

Good Interview Questions to Ask Include:

1. What are the company’s values?
2. What is your favorite part of working at the company?
3. What benefits are there for working at the company?
4. Is there a high or low turnover rate?

Red Flags

If the interviewer is unable to answer these questions, the company may suffer from organizational problems, or is hiding problematic company practices that are causing people to leave.

Look online for company reviews to get a better idea of what the company is like, and see if the interviewer’s answers line up with what former employees are saying.

Topic #3: Company Expectations

Whenever a company hires an employee, there are certain expectations. However, the entirety of these expectations might not be immediately clear in a contract alone.

Use your interview to openly discuss what the employer expects from you. Such questions let them know that you wish to come in on day one and start contributing immediately, plus it will help you better understand if this is the job for you (or not).

Good Interview Questions to Ask Include:

1. How will my work contribute to the company’s overall goals?
2. What expectations do you have of me for the next 60 days, 90 days, or year?
3. How independently do you expect me to work?
4. Will I be allowed or expected to work overtime?

Red Flags

If your interviewer isn’t able to answer these questions with specifics, it may mean that your employer doesn’t know what they want out of you. This is a bad sign. Even if you work as hard as you can, if you don’t achieve your employer’s unwritten expectations, then you could still be perceived as a poor employee.

Topic #4: Questions About the Future

During an interview, most people are only focused on securing the job. If this is also you — try and change this mindset, or you might get stuck working a dead-end job for years.

Think about your future. Can you see yourself happily working at this company for the next few years of your life? Will working there advance your career?

Good Interview Questions to Ask Include:

1. What opportunities for future development or growth are available?
2. Can you see my role expanding in the future?
3. Where is the company going in the next 5 years?
4. Are there opportunities for promotions or raises?

Red Flags

If your interviewer is unable to elaborate on their vision for your future at the company, this could mean:

• Turnover rate is so high that the company never had to provide career development resources
• Your role may be a dead end with no future career development in sight
• The company hasn’t planned for its own future

If any of these reasons are true, it’s possible that taking this job won’t help your future development.

Be careful though — if an interviewer has trouble answering your questions because the company is young, you may still be okay. It’s possible they’re still ironing things out, in which case you should use your best judgment to decide if the company is a good fit.

Topic #5: Questions About Culture

When looking for a job, be wary of only considering the salary or benefits package. You should also think about the people working there, and whether you can see yourself coexisting in the same office.

Good Interview Questions to Ask Include:

1. What is the company culture or work environment like?
2. What is the team like?
3. Who will I work with most closely?
4. Are there team building activities or company trips?

Red Flags

When your interviewer responds to this question, pay close attention to the words they choose to describe the work environment and your future colleagues. Afterward, if you’re even more excited about the prospect of working there, you’re likely a great fit.

Topic #6: Questions About the Hiring Process

One way to indicate you’re serious about the role is to ask questions that demonstrate your interest in the hiring process. Doing so shows that you care about the outcome — giving the employer a better impression of you.

Good Interview Questions to Ask Include:

1. What are the next steps in the interview process?
2. When will I hear about the result?
3. How will be notified if I get the job?
4. What will the on-boarding process be like?

Red Flags

If your interviewer clams up at the questions you’re asking, it probably means that they’re not going invite you to continue through the hiring process. In that case, don’t get your hopes up, and start looking for your next opportunity.

An Interview is a Two-Way Street

Now that you have a better idea about the questions to ask in an interview, you can steer the interview toward becoming more of a two-way conversation, rather than the usual nerve-filled interrogation associated with the interview process.

Armed with these questions to ask your interviewer, get the answers you need and walk away well-informed of the opportunity presented to you.

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