You know it's coming. The interviewer finishes up their last question and kindly asks, 'what questions do you have for us?'. You've prepared for this, but are you asking the right questions? Wait, is there a right question to ask?
Here's a few tips & tricks to mastering this inevitable question -
First, use this transition to communicate anything you didn't get to during the questions previously asked (quickly). For example, you might say, 'before we move on to question, I wanted to quickly express [fill in the blanks];. This can be a great way for you to control your narrative as the time is wrapping up.
Prepare many questions, instead of just a few. Often the interviewer answers questions you have as they are asking your questions before you've had a chance to ask and you don't want to ask something they may have already covered. Additionally, if you're meeting with multiple people in the same day, you should ask different questions to each of them. They'll sync up eventually and variety in questions will show you have prepared.
Do your homework on the panel and ask appropriate questions for who you're speaking to. For example, if it's your future boss, might you ask the type of candidate who is most successful in this role. If it's a potential colleague, you might ask what they enjoy about their role or team.
Jot down questions as you go. If possible, tie back questions to discussion you've had through earlier questions. For example, a question asked may make you curious about their point of view or specifics about the role, team, etc. which will show thoughtfulness in your approach.
Always have questions! The worst thing you can do is appear as this question is a surprise to you and not have anything prepared.
Use the time wisely about what it is you want to know and make an informed decision of the role you're going for, the team you'll be working with, and your future leadership. Don't use it to ask questions about what's next in the interview process (you can follow up with the recruiter for this!) or questions which you can find through a simple google search (ex. specifics on the company's background, business model, etc.)
Example questions:
What do you enjoy about working for [company name]?
What advice would you give to someone starting in this role?
What are the [company's name] biggest challenges and how can this role best support them?
How is the team and company culture? What do they value?
Who would be your most common partners in this role?
What career paths might be available to someone in this role?
You shared earlier, [fill in the blanks], can you tell me more about that?
You've had a diverse career background, can you share how that has best prepared you for the role you're in now? or you've been on this team or function for some time, how has your experience prepared you for the role you're in now?
To wrap up, always ask questions and use them to show your thoughtfulness, as well as help answer questions to help you make an informed decision if you receive and offer.
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