Answering the job interview question: “What questions do you have for me?”
Undoubtedly, every job interview will end with the question, “Do you have any questions for me?” Though this question can be nerve-racking, this is an excellent opportunity to seal the deal. By having a list of powerful questions ready to ask the interviewer you can impress them with your engagement, interest, and preparation. The problem is coming up with the right questions. Let’s show you how to come up with winning questions.
Variations of this question
“Do you have any questions about the role?” · “What questions do you have about the company?”
What the hiring manager is looking for
The hiring manager wants a person who is genuinely interested in the role, company and culture because these employees are usually the most impactful. They ask this question to see how interested you really are, so even if you think you know everything about the company, make sure you have a set of questions ready to ask. Another reason they ask this question is to see how you encounter problems to solve, how much effort and research do you invest.
What your goal should be
Your goal should be to sincerely learn as much as you can about the role and company. The last thing you want to do is take a job that will make you and your manager miserable. Take this opportunity to ask all of the questions that you need to make sure this is the right next step for you.
Preparing for this question
Start by reading through the job description in detail. Write down everything that might not make sense or you would like to learn more about. Then, try to figure out the answers to your list of question on the company’s website. This is important because asking questions where the answers can easily be found through simple research is irritating to hiring managers. The questions you still don’t have answers to or the new questions that arise from your research are a great list of questions to ask. Write these down and bring them with you. Set a goal to have at least 10 questions ready; you most likely will not ask them all, but some of them will get discussed and answered during the interview so you want to have enough. During your interview, listen intently to what the interviewer says about the role and company. If they say something that you’d like clarification on, add it to your list of questions.
Asking the Questions
When it comes time to ask your questions to the interviewer, pay attention to the time you have and make sure you don’t go past the time your interview was supposed to end.
Go through your list of questions and only ask the ones that have not been discussed. Before you ask your question, make sure you call attention to the research and list of questions you have — e.g. “In the job description, you mentioned…”, “As I researched this company, I came upon a comment on your website…” or “Earlier in the interview, you talked about…” By prefacing your question like this you show the interviewer that you have done your research, are quite interested in the position and engaged in the interview.
When you finally ask your question, be sure to pay attention to what the interviewer is saying instead of focusing on what your next question will be. That’s why it’s smart to bring a list of questions with you. The goal of asking a question is to have a sincere conversation about the role, company and your fit within both.
Question Examples
Here are some examples of thoughtful questions you can ask:
- “From the job description, it looks like you are looking for a UI Designer who will work on enhancements, new visual design, and strategic interface design. Can you tell me what percent of the time the UI Designer will spend in each?”
- “Another thing I noticed on the job description was that the UI designer will lead multiple project teams of designers and internal and outsourced partners. Who are the outsourced partners and how would I work with them?”
- “You mentioned earlier in our conversation that the UI designer would leverage available insights including market analysis, customer feedback, site metrics, and usability findings in all design activities. Can you tell me what kind of resources your team has available to be able to accomplish all this discovery work?”
- “I noticed on your website that your company did a few brand strategy projects for Google. Can you tell me about that project? How was it working with one of the most known brands in the world?”
Extra tips
- Important note, keep your questions specific to the job role and company.
- Do not ask questions about company perks like free lunches, massages, or vacation days.
- Do not ask the interviewer personal questions.
- Do not ask questions about salary or benefits. These questions can come after they offer you a position.
- Do not say you don’t have any questions! Depending on time try to ask at least a couple.
- Check out a related article: Answering the job interview question: “Tell me about yourself.” and Answering the Job Interview Question: “Why are you interested in working for our company?”
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