How to answer 'Do you have any questions for us?'

We all prepare so well before the interview. Let’s suppose your interview comes towards an end. It went all good but then the interviewer turned the tables and he asked “ Do you have any questions for us?” What do you say? What do you ask?

Are you one of those who would just like to end it by saying “No questions as such. I am all clear. Thank you.” Or are you one of those who would like to earn some brownie points by asking some insightful questions?

Why to ask questions towards the end of the interviews?

An Interview isn’t just about you getting grilled with interview questions from the hiring managers but also a chance for you to understand whether the opportunity is right fit for you.

Which means: It’s important to go in with some questions to ask of your own.

What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team?

The people who are able to ask better questions in this part are able to show much eagerness they have about the company and to understand their roles. People who often skip asking questions show that they don’t have the diligence & value to ask any clarifying questions. This forms a bad impression & such people ain’t often hired.

But when the inevitable, “So, do you have any questions for us?” part of the interview comes?, we all often get stuck up since we ain’t ready with our question bank. Don’t worry. We have got you covered!

4C’s : The 4 Categories of Questions that you can ask the Interviewer

Connect:

Questions in this category enable you to connect with the interviewer and initiate a conversation. It helps to create a bond between you and the interviewer.

Examples:

1. How long have you been with the company?

2. Has your role changed since you’ve been here?

3. What did you do before this?

4. Why did you come to this company?

5. What’s your favorite part about working here?

Culture:

These questions help you understand the working environment of the company. It helps you to understand what kind of work life balance do the current employees believe in.

Examples:

1. Who’s the recent most successful hire & why?

2. What does a typical day look like?

3. What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?

4. What is the performance review process like here? How often would I be formally reviewed?

5. What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?

6. Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?

Challenge: This question is really good when you want to understand the kind of challenges that might be involved in the role offered to you & what all you can do to resolve such challenges while working for the company.

Examples:

1. What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed?

2. Can you show me examples of projects I’d be working on?

3. What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?

4. What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?

5. What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?

6. What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?

Close:

This category of questions are asked when you want to leave the interview on a clear note regarding the steps which will be followed after the interview.

Examples:

1. What will be the next steps after this interview?

2. When can I expect the results of the interview?

3. Do you have any feedback for my performance in this interview?

4. Is there anything that concerns you about my background being a fit for this role?

5. Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?

6. Can I answer any final questions for you?

Another thing to keep in mind is to always be prepared to ask multiple questions after the interview. Sometimes, the interview may answer the question you had prepared. In that situation you won't be left with any question to ask the interviewer.

As they say, “A Job interview is not a test of your knowledge, but your ability to use it at the right time.”

If you get stuck, always remember one thing, in the middle of difficulty lies an opportunity.