How To Answer: Do You Have Any Questions For Me? (Examples Included)
This question provides you the opportunity to go on a fact-finding mission. This is your chance to get more details that to help you assess whether the company is a good fit for YOUR needs. Usually, interviewees focus on demonstrating THEIR fit for the company, a strategy I encourage.
Many if not most interviewers will ask if you have any questions. Focus less on performing and more on learning information that you truly do need to know before making a decision. To show you are well prepared and interested in the company and position, you should have questions to ask during an interview. This article covers big-picture tips, suggests ways to create your list of questions, provides 20 sample questions, gives you a strategy to responding if all of your questions have been answered, and discusses why this question is a golden opportunity.
Big-Picture
- Ask open-ended questions that pertain to the “meaty” stuff—the responsibilities of the position, the company’s direction, its needs, your role in the company, how the organization is structured, etc.
- Do not ask questions that are easily answered by looking at the website.
- Avoid questions that are about the “nitty gritty” details that are not central to the role. These include things like the exact hours you will work, vacation days, paid holidays, flex time, and socializing with co-workers.
- Do not ask a question about salary while being interviewed, especially during a first- or second-round interview.
- Do not have the same list of questions for every employer. You should tweak your list depending on the situation.
Become An Informed Interviewee
Write a list of questions after doing your homework on the company. Here are steps to making sure you create awesome questions that highlight your understanding of the job and company and focus on the important things.
- Research the company. Look at its website, marketing material, and LinkedIn page. Take notes on what you notice and questions you might have.
- Talk to your connections about the company and see what they have to say about the work culture, the services/products the company offers, the company’s organizational structure, etc. Ask your connections open-ended questions to see what they share.
- Write questions you have after looking at the company’s website and speaking with your connections? These can be about services the company offers, its goals for the next year, or few years, or the needs it has at the given moment.
20 Sample Questions
Questions can loosely be grouped around the job and the company, but you can also inquire about the interviewer, the interview process, and your candidacy.
Questions about the job
- What are your top priorities for the person who steps into this role?
- Is there anything I can be working on while you continue the interviewing process that will help ensure my smooth start?
- Is this a new position or a replacement for someone? If it’s for a new position, follow up by asking about protections for the person if the company has a bad quarter or year. If it’s for a replacement, ask about where the other person went and why (e.g., fired, promoted, or moved to a competitor).
- On average, how long do people stay in this position?
- Can you clarify the job duties? Is there anything that is not included in the job description?
- Can you tell me what a typical day would be like for me?
- What is the most important thing needed to be successful in this job?
- Who would I report to?
- Can you tell me about any travel that would be expected? Location(s)? Frequency?
Questions about the company and interviewer
- On average, how long do people stay at this company?
- How are employees evaluated?
- What are the company’s goals for the next 12-18 months?
- What are the company’s long-term goals?
- When was the last time the company had to lay people off?
- How is the company structured?
- Does the company have a plan in place if there were another economic downturn?
- What is the relationship like between managers and staff?
Additional questions
- Do you have any reservations about me as a candidate? I’d be happy to discuss them.
- What is the next stage of the interviewing process?
- What do you value most about working here?
Situational Questions
If you left your last job because it required more travel than you wanted, then asking about travel expectations is crucial. You might not need to ask the question in your first interview, but you certainly want to know that information before accepting an offer.
If the last five people who had the same job title left to work for a competitor, what has the company changed to help make the next person succeed long-term?
What to Do if All of Your Questions Have Been Answered
Sometimes an interview goes really well, and by the end of it the interviewer has already answered all of your questions before you had a chance to ask them. What do you do then?
Be honest—and specific.
You can tell the interviewer that you had a list of questions, but they have all been answered.
Then, recap your questions, so the interviewer knows you actually had questions prepared.
Sample Response
“Thanks for giving me the chance to ask you some questions. I had quite a few, but we’ve addressed them already. I was curious to know about the what you see as the top priorities for this position, the responsibilities for the new hire, how the organization is structured, and what people seem to like most about working here. You covered all of those things.”
Then, if it hasn’t already come up in conversation, you can ask:
“Can I follow up with you if I think of any other questions?”
You can also end on this note:
“I feel good about what we covered. I feel like I have a strong understanding of the role, what my responsibilities would be, and what the company’s needs are. Is there anything else you can think of that would be important for me to know at this point?”
Final Takeaway
Responding to the question “Do you have questions for me?” boils down to the following: ask open-ended questions that show are you prepared, engaged, and inquisitive.
About The Author
Heidi Scott Giusto
Heidi Scott Giusto, PhD, is a Certified Employment Interview Professional and holds additional certifications in resume writing and motivational coaching. She earned her doctorate degree from Duke University. Heidi delights in helping people succeed when the stakes are high by coaching them to excel at all stages of the job application process.
