How many questions to ask interviewer

Remember our little mock scenario above where our candidate seemed eager to wrap up the interview and get out of there? That can make a hiring manager reluctant to extend the offer of a job. On top of that, most hiring managers expect candidates to have questions. Not having questions makes you appear lazy, unmotivated, and unprepared…exactly the opposite of someone they want to hire.

Ha ha, slow down there turbo! Like favorite animals and if they were stranded on an island, who would they want to be stranded with? Serious job related questions…questions that can ultimately make or break your desire to accept the job should it be offered. As we said earlier, there are specific categories you want to stick to when thinking about questions to ask an interviewer. What are you getting hired to do? What are you going to be doing exactly? How long will you be doing that job and will the job evolve as you continue to work there?

Speaking of doing a job, are you fully prepared to start if you are hired? Is there anything you need to know in order to do the job? How you do your job is also equally important…and what they expect from you as you do it!

The best way to meet the goals of your employer is to know up front what they are. What do they expect from someone who is hired for this position? How do they evaluate that performance? Are there reviews? By the way, who are you actually working for? Not just your supervisor , but the company overall. Speaking of moving forward, is this a job with room for growth and advancement?

How about your fellow co-workers? What about the people that make up the roster of employees? Who are you going to be working with? Are you working with a team? Another important consideration to keep in mind is the culture of the company you are going to work for. What kind of place is it? Is it a suit and tie sort of place or are employees allowed to be a little more casual? Now what? Are there further steps that need to be completed?

Now that we have the categories outlined, we can start really drilling down with these questions to ask the interviewer. Yes, we sort of roughed out quite a few when we described the categories, but those are general questions. The questions you want to ask are going to be specific…researched…and tailored! But you just gave me seven categories!

Nobody wants to hire an idiot! First off, take a deep breath and relax. How do I know which questions are the right questions to be asking? Questions to ask at the end of a job interview. Company-specific questions. How would you describe the company's culture? What is your favorite thing about working for this company? How do you see this company evolving over the next five years? How would the person in this role contribute to this vision?

How do you think the company defines and demonstrates its values? What qualities and attributes make for a successful employee in the company? Who do you consider your top competitor, and why? How are you better? What are the biggest opportunities currently being presented to the company? What are the biggest challenges the company is facing right now?

How is the company addressing these challenges? What's your staff turnover rate and how are you trying to reduce it? What makes people stay at this company? Role-specific questions. Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities of this job? Who would I be reporting to? Will I have an opportunity to meet the person I'd report to during the interview process? How would I collaborate with my supervisor? What do you think is the most challenging aspect of the job?

What does the ideal candidate for this role look like? What do you think are the most important qualities for the person in this role to possess? Beyond the technical skills required to succeed in this role, what soft skills do you think will serve the company and position best? Is this a new position? If not, why did the person before me leave this role?

How have people previously succeeded in this role? How has this position evolved? What are your expectations for this role during the first 30 to 60 days? How do you evaluate success?

Is there a 'typical' career path for someone in this role? How do I compare with other candidates you've interviewed for this role? Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications? Have I answered all your questions? Wrap-up questions. What is your timeline and what are the next steps? Do you need me to clarify or elaborate on anything regarding my suitability for the position?

Is there anything else I can provide to help you with your decision? Has this company changed your original career path? What's one of the most interesting projects you've worked on here? What's been your best moment at this company? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Is there anyone else I should meet with? Are there any other important aspects of the job that we haven't covered? Here is a great list of interview questions to get you started. Before you head to your interview, review your list once more and flag the most important questions you'd like to ask. This way, if you are unable to get through every question on your list, you can at least make sure you've covered the key items.

Remember, the key to interview success is to focus on the purpose behind each question you ask, rather than how many questions should you ask in an interview.

Not ready for your next interview? Take this short quiz to find out how TopInterview can help you succeed. On a regular basis, she answers user questions like the one above. Have a question? Take a look at Amanda's career advice on our blog or ask a question on her Quora page. Looking for a Family-Friendly Company? Ask These Interview Questions. What Does a Second Interview Mean? Our team is standing by, happy to help answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.

Or, contact us directly:. Menu Do I need coaching? Use this guideline to know how many questions is too many.