You’ve prepared answers to the questions you anticipate in your next interview, you’ve got your interview outfit ready, and you’ve planned the route to the office. Looks like you’re all set! Not so fast - have you remembered to think about some questions to ask in an interview? In this article, we’re looking at how to wrap up those final few minutes professionally and leave the interviewer with a great impression. 

Why is having questions to ask in an interview important?

It’s easy to see the interview as a one-way conversation, with the interviewer asking questions and the candidate responding. The most successful and - dare we say - enjoyable interviews, however, are those that work as a two-way conversation. There’s absolutely no reason not to ask questions of your own throughout the discussion. 

At the end of the interview, it’s almost guaranteed that your interviewer will specifically ask if you have any questions yourself. 

Expert tip: The answer is never “no!”

You should always be prepared with a list of good questions to ask in an interview, because: 

• It shows you’re interested in the role 

• The answers may help you to decide whether or not to accept the job

• It gives you a chance to understand the next steps

• The responses will give you more insight into the company, the team and the interviewer

Let’s dive straight into some of the best questions to ask in an interview. 

1. When can I expect to hear from you? 

This is a great question to ask an interviewer, as it could save you days of stress. Knowing when you’ll hear the outcome gives you the opportunity to go home, reflect on your performance, and continue with your life and your job hunt, without the constant nagging voice in the back of your head wondering why you haven’t had an answer yet. If you have a good understanding of the timeline, you’ll likely feel more relaxed in the hours, days, and even weeks to come.  

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

Questions about the routines and expectations of the position are always worth asking, to ensure that you fully understand what you’re letting yourself in for. It looks good from the other side of the desk too, as the interviewer will see that you’re giving due consideration to the position rather than just grabbing the first job to come along. 

3. Can you tell me about the team?

This one can be tricky, as the interviewer isn’t going to tell you that Sandra smells, Shane will dump his work on you, and Isla is a micromanager. However, the answer will shed some light on the type of dynamic you’ll be working in - are they a sociable bunch, for example, or have there been a lot of resignations recently? 

4. What does the on-boarding process look like? 

This question will give you some insight into whether there’s a structured training programme with introductions and mentoring, or whether you’ll be expected to hit the ground running and not come up for air for the first three months. It also flags to the interviewer that they should put some thought into the process, if they haven’t already! 

5. Do you have any concerns about my application? 

This can feel like a difficult interview question to ask, as it can make you feel vulnerable to criticism. Let’s turn that around though - any concerns they raise can be immediately addressed by you, right then and there, rather than having your application dismissed because you weren’t aware of the gaps. It also gives you something to work on to improve your next application, and shows that you’re open to feedback and development. A win all round, when it’s put like that! 

Considerations if you’re applying for a promotion 

If you’re applying for a promotion, you already have valuable insight into the team and the company. You’ll likely have more in-depth questions to ask in an interview in that case, such as how your transition will be communicated to colleagues, what further career development opportunities are available, or how your performance will be measured. 

Take the next step up in your career!

If you’ve prepared thoroughly and equipped yourself with a comprehensive list of questions to ask at the end of an interview, you’ve done all you can to succeed in this challenging part of the job search process. Good luck! 

If you’re struggling to land interviews in the first place, or the interviews you land aren’t reflective of your skills and experience, it could be your CV holding you back. Why not send it for a free CV review by the experts at TopResume? With a few adjustments, you could be landing more interviews in no time!