Have a job interview coming up? Make sure you ask some of these questions at the end of your interview.

At the end of nearly every job interview, the interviewer will more than likely ask you if you have any questions for them. Ensure you have some pre-prepared questions to ask so you’re not caught off guard.

Why should I ask questions at the end of an interview?

Job interviews are a two-way conversation. It’s a chance where the employer can get to know you and find out if you’re suitable or not for the position. But it’s also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company, the culture, and the role in more detail – so don’t let this opportunity pass you at the end of an interview.

On top of this, strategically chosen questions can help you stand out from the crowd. For example, you could reference a recent news story about the company. Asking genuine and relevant questions shows the employer that you’re enthusiastic, engaged, and interested in the role - all qualities that the employer will be looking for.

How Many Questions Should You Ask?

Ideally, you should prepare at least four or five questions before the interview to ensure you have some backup questions in case some of them were already covered during the interview. Choose questions that express your interest, as well as showing them that you've done your research on the company in advance.

Not sure what to ask? We've put together some top questions to ask at the end of your interview:

1. How would you describe your organisation’s culture?

Asking questions about the company culture shows the interviewer that you care about finding the right cultural fit. However, you should still take answers to culture questions with a grain of salt as it’s highly unlikely that the interviewer is going to tell you that the culture is negative, unwelcoming, or even toxic. That’s why some of the below questions might be better than directly asking about their company culture.

• What sort of policies are in place to encourage staff wellbeing?
• What’s your favourite office tradition?
• What do you and the team usually do for lunch?
• How do you usually onboard new staff?
• What’s different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked?

2. What does a typical day look like in this role?

 This question enables you to learn as much as possible about the role. It will clarify the different aspects of the role, especially if it's a cross-functional position or is part of a team. The response should provide you with an idea of what the employer's expectations are, a better understanding of the role responsibilities, and what skills, strengths, and experience are needed. This will all help you decide if the role is right for you.

3. Would there be an opportunity to progress further down the line?

Asking questions about your future development possibilities within the company shows your ambition to succeed, and demonstrates to the interviewer that you're serious about your career and interested in a future with the organisation.

It’s important to ask questions relating to learning, development, and future progression possibilities as you don’t want to find out at a later date that there’s no scope to move up in the company. So asking this type of question will help you to assess whether a long-term career with the company is a possibility or not.

4. What are the most challenging aspects of the job?

This is a good question to ask as it shows your awareness – you understand that every role has obstacles and difficulties, but you can acknowledge these and confront them head-on.

This sort of question will help you understand the role better and to help you decide whether it's suited to your experience and skill-set.

5. Where do you think the company is headed in the next 3-5 years?

The interviewer’s response will provide you with an insight into the company’s vision and progression plans, and at what rate they are expecting to expand while giving you a general idea about job security.

This question shows the interviewer that you’re interested in the future of the company and potentially want to pursue a long-term career with them and that you aspire to contribute to the company's projected growth.

6. Can you tell me more about the team I would be working in?

It’s good to know before you accept a job offer what your team structure will be like. Who you’ll be reporting to, how many are on the team, what are their responsibilities, etc? These are the people you'll be working with every day, so it's worth trying to find out about the team dynamic and working methods.

7. What are the next steps of the process?

If the interviewer doesn’t provide details about the next steps, then it’s a good idea for you to ask this at the end of your interview. Some employers can take some time to get back to you, so asking this question will give you a good indication of when you should expect to hear back from them. It’s also a good way to bring the interview to a natural close.

If you’re looking to make your next career move, feel free to reach out to us at any time – we’re always here to help!