What Questions Should I Ask in an Interview? Know the 2 Things that Matter Most! was originally published on The Job Insiders.
You’ve just answered the final interview question.
Phew. It’s finally over.
Or is it?
As someone who’s earned job offers at Apple and Google and conducted interviews from LinkedIn to Khan Academy, I’ve seen first-hand that there’s still one last question to answer:
“What Questions Should I Ask My Interviewer?”
To answer this question, let’s focus on the two reasons these final questions matter in the first place:
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They help you seal the deal
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They give you a chance to find the right fit
Because each rationale lends itself to different questions, we’ll take them one at a time.
What Questions Should I Ask at the End of an Interview to Seal the Deal?
While it’s true that many interviewers make up their minds early in the conversation, it’s always possible that your interviewer is still deciding towards the end.
Thus, to make the most of this final consideration, you want to ask questions that speak to the interviewer’s own two key questions:
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Competence: Can you do the job?
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Warmth: Would you be a good teammate?
To speak to the first criterion (which is really about your experience with relevant skills + outcomes), it’s a good idea to ask questions that play to your strengths, such as:
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I’ve spent the last several years building up my expertise in X KEY SKILL (e.g., SEO, Machine Learning). How important would you say that is to the role?
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One of my personal focus areas is driving big results when it comes to Y OUTCOME (e.g., growing brand awareness, customer retention). How critical would you say that is to this role’s success?
And to nail the second criterion (which is all about your fit with the team and culture), consider asking questions like:
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One of the things that I’m looking for is a role where I get to work with X TEAM (e.g., a super creative team, a highly data-driven team). Would you say this team is a good match?
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I’m really excited to join an organization with a Y CULTURE (e.g., really collaborative culture, a very fast-paced culture). How would you describe the culture here?
While you definitely don’t need to ask all of these questions or formulate them exactly the same way, if you can leave the interviewer with a final impression of fit (with the job and team), that may be the first thing they remember when filling out your evaluation!
What Are the Top 5 Questions to Ask an Interviewer to Find the Right Fit?
Let’s say that the interviewer has already fallen in love with you. But the big question remains: Is the feeling mutual?
And while it may seem nerve-wracking to start considering that question during the interview, your questions at the end are really your first chance to find out.
So just like the interviewer has their own criteria to judge you, you should start with the key criteria to make your own best choice:
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Role Fit: Will I enjoy doing this work?
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Team Fit: Will I enjoy doing it with these people?
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Company Fit: Will I enjoy being part of this organization?
In terms of Role Fit, there are really two things that matter – what you have to do and how you’ll be judged. So consider asking questions like the following:
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Can you tell me about the first big project this person will take on? And what’s likely to come after that?
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What does success look like for this role? And what kind of key metrics will this person be accountable for?
When it comes to Team Fit, it’s all about understanding who you’re working with and what they’re like. So here are two key questions:
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Who would this person work with most, day to day?
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How would you describe those people’s preferred working styles?
And finally, on the dimension of Company Fit, it really just boils down to the organization’s values and culture – which you can learn more about via:
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What would you say the organization’s top 3 values are in practice? And how do they manifest themselves in your day-to-day experience?
What Are Good Questions to Ask in an Interview?
There you go: Everything you need to close your interview the right way. Not just the questions that will get you through the awkward final five minutes – but the ones that will actually get you closer to your twin goals:
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Getting the job
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Getting the job that’s right for you
Because at the end of the day, that’s the whole point of this process. To build a career – and life – you love. So good luck out there and keep your eyes on the prize! 🤩