6 great questions to ask on a job interview

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At the end of most job interviews, you're asked a seemingly innocuous, open-ended question: "Do you have any questions for me?" That may seem straightforward enough, but in fact there are many ways to go astray.

One obvious mistake is not asking anything at all, which shows that you haven't given any serious thought to the possibility of employment at this particular organization. The second is asking questions that can be answered with a simple Internet search. That's a sure sign of laziness and inattention to detail -- two qualities that don't exactly scream "A+ candidate."

By contrast, asking good questions will leave the interviewer with a positive impression of you. It also allows you to figure out if this company and possible manager is a good fit (because job interviews are fact-finding missions for both parties).

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Here are some key questions to trot out in your next interview. Notice that "Can I take 'Summer Fridays'?" is not included.

Who's in charge? Ask who you'd be reporting to and how success will be measured, suggests executive coach Meg Montford. "It tells them that you are ambitious and not just a time-clock puncher." If you're hired, knowing how achievement is measured will help you get off on the right foot.

What's your management style? If you determine that the interviewer is also your potential manager, try to get a feel for what he or she might be like on the job by asking, "How would you define or describe your own management style?" advises Ford Myers, author of Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring. Doing basic research on the company is great, but you need to figure out what daily life would be like in the trenches.

What's your biggest problem right now? "This question tells the company that you're already processing how you may contribute value to them," Montford says. Showing that you're already thinking about the job's challenges makes it easier for hiring managers to picture you in that position. Listen closely, and mention some possible solutions on the spot or in a follow up "thank you" note. On the other hand, if the problem seems like something you can't or have no interest in solving, the job might not be a great fit.

Why are YOU here? Asking why this person has joined the company and why they've stayed will give you instant insight into its corporate culture, Myers says. If their reasons align with with your own motives for wanting to come aboard, that may bode well for your happiness at the organization. If they have trouble coming up with anything better than, "hey, it's a job," that may be a red flag.

Why is this position open? It's important to determine if the job is new or if it already existed. Did the previous person leave, and is there an internal candidate? "If it's a new position, then you may have some input into how the job is defined, if you're hired," Montford says. "If there's an internal candidate, then that opens up many more questions in your mind, such as will the internal person have an edge among the competition."

What next? Two helpful questions at the end of an interview are "where are you in the hiring process?" and "when and how should I follow up?" Myers says. These show that you're genuinely interested in the job, while also providing essential information for your job search plan.

What questions do you ask in a job interview?

[TheBigGameHunter]

"So, it's a year from now and it's time to give me my review and I haven't done a good job. I've done a great job. As a matter of fact, you want to write the best review you have ever written. What would I have accomplished in this year that would have you write such a review?" This will give you a better idea of the job, what criteria is used to assess someone and how realistic your future manager is.

[[e-mail]]

I agree with [e-mail] on that "What's your management style?" question -- not a good question. Perhaps, "I'm always in learning mode -- what's your approach to managing people and projects?"

Also, check out these top ten questions from IT Business Edge:

10 Interview Questions Job Seekers Must Ask:
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/slideshows/show.aspx?c=87964

No one has mentioned one critical element -- time during the interview. The new normal seems to be 30 minute interviews so not a lot of time for questions. Here are my top three (taken from the IT Business Edge article):

Can you give me more detail about the position's responsibilities?
(Never rely on the job description!)

What are the most challenging aspects of the job for which I am being considered?

How can I most quickly become a strong contributor within the organization?
(I think that makes you sound like you want to BE a contributor.)

Lastly, I've found this to be pretty effective. Go in with your own 30-60-90 Day Plan for the job. Unfortunately, you're relying on that same job description for details. Unless you've had a phone pre-screen or an inside contact to gather some info for your plan. You could also ask the HR contact, "How does Ms/Mr Jones typically manage people or projects?"

I recently had an HR contact give me a great piece of advice about a prospective position. "We have eliminated some candidates because they were talking about content. This is not about content, it's about execution." [Program Manager position]. Great insight.

[Cicuta2011]

Amy Levin-Epstein, as many writers, just give advise without being there; also most writers write because that is all they know what to do but with misconceptions. The advise I always give is to be prepared for everything, not only that particular job. How to do that? Simple, beat them to the punch! In the IT world, there are people whom research everything under the sun being myself one of them and so save all of your research, technical or not on CD or DVD for future use. Then here comes the most important piece of work on your part: Prepare an excellent Curriculum Vitae (CV) which is different than a resume; in the CV you enumerate everything you have accomplished including diplomas and curses taken concerning your field and then bind it nicely, my CV has 62 pages full with diplomas. a technical profile, certifications, and my college degrees. Then when at the meeting for the job you are applying for the first thing the interviewer will ask you is: Can you tell me something about yourself? Then you just handle to him/her your CV saying...this is what I do for my employers and then after that you handle some technical procedures which you have done in the field of expertise; the procedures must be excellent also, well written and with examples...then you say, I can do the same and much more for your company. At that point the interviewer will be short with words and that will be the end of the interview with the interviewer asking you: If we offer you a position with our company, when would you be willing to start working? The reply is obvious...you could say: any time you would want me to start.

Writers as usual just grab situations from the air but never have been in an interview for a technical job and so don't know how to nail an interview before it begins.

[[e-mail]]

Fascinating - very bold. Share more. I'd be interesting in hearing how some people have responded--what type of feedback do you get? And, what are some of the specific jobs you've landed with that approach?

[Shrujaan]

I agree with Cicuta2011. Only perfect practice can make us perfect! Theory won't give practical results, especially when it comes to interview preparations. Can you drive a car smoothly just by understanding theories.
But for good advice and practice on an excellent Interview Simulator, I would not have been working with a Fortune 500 company. In my college I practiced more than 50 interviews on "SMART Interview Simulator". Thanks to good practice and great advices. Most of us are with good organizations now.

[[e-mail]]

"What is your management style?"? Don't ask that. There's about a 0% chance you'll get an answer that's meaningful. (Actually, there really is no meaningful answer to that.) And you'll sound like you're reading directly from a 1980's business book.

It'd be better to collect that info from other sources. If you insist on trying, maybe ask indirectly: "How would your team describe your approach to work?"

I really like the "Why are YOU here?" question. And, the question posted above (TomGimbel) is a great way to culminate an IV.

Good article - thanks!

[MarkDanielAbraham]

This all sounds good except ... EVERYONE asks these questions. I've just come out of two weeks of interviewing candidates for a couple of positions we are hiring for and they all asked one or more of these questions.

The problem is that, other than asking about the 'What's Next' questions, they seem to only be asking these questions because they read that they were supposed to in a blog somewhere. You can see their eyes glaze over as you give the answer.

My advice, as a hiring manager, is to only ask questions that you are genuinely interested in, and tailor the questions to the position/role. For example if you are interviewing for a graphic designer position rather than asking "how is this position evaluated" make it more specific. Something like: "there's obviously a lot of subjectivity in what makes a good design - personal preference has a lot to do with it - how do you go about assessing performance in these more subject aspects of the position?"

And then ... and this is key ... ask follow up questions, make a comment, say SOMETHING to acknowledge that you got the kind information you were looking to get out of the answer. Don't just nod your head, look down at you prepared list of questions and ask the next one on the list.

Just my two cents.

[Stevefoxy]

Alternatively:
1) Looking back at the interview we just conducted and as the former mayor of New York often asked his fellow citizens, "How am I doing?" "How did I do?"
2) "While I understand you can't make a choice today, is there anything that would prevent you from hiring me?"

[[e-mail]]

All excellent questions, but everyone of them should have been asked and answered during the course of the interview, not at the end.

[TomGimbel]

These are excellent questions to ask during a job interview! We also strongly encourage our candidates to ask the interviewer if they have any hesitations about their background or experience. Although sometimes hiring managers will voice their concerns, many times they will not. Being proactive and asking this question ensures the concerns are addressed immediately and increases the likelihood of a job offer.

[farmerbb]

When I was interviewed for a job once, I said I had an answer for a question the boss did not ask. Obligingly, he said "OK, what was the question you thought I might ask ?" I said "Why should I hire you as opposed to someone else ?" My answer was that I came from an entirely different background than most people who would apply for that job, and that this gave me a real edge, as I would bring fresh ideas and insight into problem solving. He hummed a bit, but said nothing at the time. I DID get the job and after about a year in the job, he said I was the best of about 6 similar job holders.