10 Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview (Great for Impressing and Assessing)
Inside: Need questions to ask at the end of an interview? Try these 10 questions from a career coach.
We’ve all been there. You get to the end of an interview, feeling like you’ve crushed “tell me about yourself,” SOARed right through the behavioral questions, and then you get hit with one more.
So, do you have any questions for me?
Yikes. Ummmm….
Don’t get caught off guard again and come prepared with this list of great questions to ask at the end of an interview. (Career coach tested, career coach approved!)
Why You Should Have Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview?
Before we get to the questions, it’s always good to know why you should learn about something before learning it. I certainly would have paid MUCH closer attention in science if I knew I would one day be expected to teach it to a very curious six-year-old.
So why should you have questions to ask at the end of an interview? Isn’t this interview about them getting to know you?
Well, yes. But there’s more!
An interview definitely is an opportunity for the organization you are interviewing with to get to know you and determine if you would be the ideal person for this role. They want to know if you can come solve their problems and make their lives easier.
But an interview is also an opportunity for you to assess if this organization and role are a good fit for you. The employer WANTS you to do that assessment too because what if they offer you the job, you accept the job, and then you quit the job one month later because you never should have taken it to begin with, that’s a HUGE problem for them.
Therefore, asking questions at the end of an interview that allow you to tease out more about the role, the company culture, and the organization’s values is smart for you, and smart for the employer. Plus some good questions make you stand out to the employer as someone who is dedicated to this interview process which is a big checkmark in your favor.
10 Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview
What questions should you ask at the end of the interview then? Oh, I’m so glad you asked!
Here’s a list of my ten favorite interview questions, and I recommend having at least five of them in your back pocket, or written down in your notebook. Some of the questions from your list may already be answered during the interview which is great. If so, go to the next question!
And please excuse me while the example company names I provide are blatantly based on items on my kitchen counter. A counter I very recently cleaned, but still find covered in things because kids.
1. You’ve been with Flower Vase Inc. for six years, what do you enjoy most about working here?
Why this question works: If you’re curious about the company culture, start here. You can ask this question of anyone who has been with the company for more than a year or two and get great insight what people care about most.
Or you can go directly at the culture question with…
2. How would you describe the company culture at Dried Mango & Co?
Why this question works: The question on its face might seem kind of “meh” but I think you can get a lot from body language and tone when you’re listening to the answer.
Are folks eager to talk about their colleagues or the mission of the organization? Do they simply recite the company value’s statement and it feels scripted. Do they say “work hard, play hard” and you suddenly get visions of late weekend nights followed by team bar hopping that you’d rather pass on?
Ask this question of multiple people and keep in mind what matters most to you in a culture.
3. Can you tell me about a project that you’ve been working on at Moderately Clean Counter lately?
Why this question works: Asking this question of someone who would be in your new department or team gives you more insight into the day-to-day work and how your teammates approach it.
Are they excited about the projects they are working on? Are YOU excited about what they are working on?
This is a good way to make your interview thank you notes specific to a person too if they haven’t given you a whole lot of personal details.
4. What has made others successful in this role at Glass Half Full Company in the past?
Why this question works: I love this question because wouldn’t it be great to know what the company really values from someone in this position so that you can drive home how you also can do those things? And then if what has made someone successful gives you the heebie jeebies, that’s good to know.
For example, “Sally was great at this role because she was the first to get here, last to leave, probably until 10 pm most nights.” Or “Jerome was the best at this position because he had thick skin and never took tough customers personally.” If that’s not for you, and no judgment here, it’s simply good to know.
5. Does Cake Topper Inc. offer Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and if so how do employees engage with them?
Why this question works: They are a lot of different questions you can ask to better understand a company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and this is just one.
If it’s not obvious on the company website how the company is supporting all employees and encouraging their personal and professional growth, ask. The more all of us ask these questions, the harder it will be for companies to ignore the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
6. How does this position interact with your position at Alexa Devices? (Or, how we would work together if I was in this role?)
Why this question works: It’s hard to tell from a job description how a company works behind the scenes so get into it during the interview. How much cross functional collaboration is there? Who would you be working with on a regular basis?
This interview question shows you care about the role and could see yourself there, and gives you important information.
7. What would you see as a successful first three months for someone in this role at Pile O’ Masks?
Why this question works: Another one of my favorites, this question expresses to an employer that you WANT to be successful and gives you a rubric of how to be successful.
With this information in mind, you can go in and crush it if you are offered and accept the job, and you can craft your interview thank you note with these points in mind.
7. How did Tiny Tea Cup & Co manage challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and remote work?
Why this question works: It’s not just being nosey. You want to know, so ask but keep it kind of broad so you can get answers to more detailed questions like:
- Did remote work work for this company?
- How did they manage communication?
- What’s the deal for the future?
If the answers to question one don’t get at some of this, go ahead and dig deeper. It’s important to know what you’re walking into!
8. I saw Paint Brush & Sons is putting out this new product which is really exciting! Have you been involved in that project?
Why this question works: Show the employer that you’ve done your research. Research beyond checking out the company website. I’m talking about looking at press releases, checking out their social media accounts, chatting with folks who work there if possible.
When you ask about something specific going on at the company, you can dive into a rich conversation that makes the employer feel like you get it. You want them to feel like you get it!
9. What opportunities exist at Big Yellow Frisbee for professional development and learning?
Why this question works: I tend to avoid questions about growth into future roles because you want the company to know that you care about THIS role. You don’t want to leave them with a “stepping stone” feeling about you.
However, this question around professional development gets to a similar point with different wording. You want to know how you’re going to get stretched and what opportunities you would have to grow your career there. Professional development doesn’t guarantee a promotion, but career pathing may come up as part of this conversation.
10. I’ve been impressed by what I’ve read about Tiny Doll Shoe and Company’s commitment to giving back to the community. Can you share with me your experience about how the company lives out these values?
Why this question works: This last question to ask at the end of an interview hits ons a few of my favorite points.
1. You’re digging into company values and culture. Great information to have!
2. You’re showing that you’ve done your research. Points for you!
3. You’re getting a sense for the people. What do they care about? How closely are the people aligned with the values written on the website?
Ready, Set, Interview!
Are you ready to go crush your interview? I know you are, you’re such a champion!
But if you want a little extra help, check out the guide below. I’ve got you!
Read More on Job Interviews:
How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” In an Interview
How to Answer “Tell Me About a Time” Questions – The SOAR Framework
