7 Questions to Ask in Your Next Interview

The interview is winding down and you’re feeling good. In closing, the interviewer asks if you have any questions. What you ask sends a signal about how invested you are and how well you'll fit in on the team. Here are a few strategic questions to ask in a job interview that will help improve your chances of landing the position:



1. What is the top priority in this role over the next six months?
Job descriptions are great, but they don’t always end up being a great indicator of what your day-to-day job will look like. If you’ve been given a job description that is either vague, broad, or contains a laundry list of responsibilities—asking a question like this will give you more of an idea what you’ll be asked to focus on the most, and it shows your interviewer that you’re goal oriented.

2. What is one of the biggest problems you face as a team and how could I help you overcome that?
Asking a question like this shows that you’re more than just a resume. The goal is to get the interviewer to visualize you being successful in the role and fitting in great with the rest of the team. Plus, you’ll get some valuable insight into the challenges they are facing, how you can help, and how you can show them they made a smart decision in hiring you.

3. Tell me a fun fact about you that I might not guess from your job title.
This is what we call a rapport building question. The most successful interview outcomes occur when you can build a connection with the person interviewing you. People love to talk about themselves and questions like this help you get the interviewer’s walls to come down a little bit. By showing a genuine interest in them personally, you’ll naturally build more of a connection. This is an important part of making a positive (and memorable) impression.

4. Do you have any questions about my skills or qualifications that I haven’t already answered?
They often do, and if you come right out and ask them, many interviewers will level with you. This gives you an opportunity to put their concerns to rest if you can think quickly on your feet. Maybe you don’t have quite as much experience as they’d like or maybe you are missing a qualification or skill that is on the job description. Whatever the reason, this is your chance to change their mind. If you’re prepared going into the interview and you know where you may fall short, then you can address it in a way that will impress them.

5. What is the best part about working here?
This question is great because it shows them that you care about more than just the job, and that you want to understand what makes the company a great place to work. In other words, you’re not just looking for any old job, you’re looking for a great job and you’re choosing them. This is an important part of creating rapport with your interviewer and it helps show them that you’re a culture fit. If you can convey that what they love about the company is something you’d love too, then you’ve done your job!

6. What are the next steps in the selection process?
We can’t write about questions to ask in an interview and not mention this one. If your interviewer doesn’t offer this information and you don’t ask, it sends a message that you’re not as enthusiastic about moving forward. If you’re excited about a job, show them by asking this question.

7. Do you have a business card?
Often the person who schedules the interview is not the person who conducts the interview. Ask your interviewer for a business card. This accomplishes three things: it enables you to contact them directly to follow-up, it lets you add them to your network of professional contacts, and it makes sending a ‘thank you’ note or email MUCH easier! You were going to send a thank you note…weren’t you?