Check out these 20 questions to ask an interviewer

A job interview isn’t just an opportunity for a potential employer to learn about you. It’s also a chance for you to learn more about the organization and whether you’d make a good fit. For this reason, when you’re preparing for an interview, consider writing a list of impressive questions to ask the interviewer.

In this blog post, we’ll share:

• 20 questions to ask an interviewer

• 4 types of questions you should not ask

What are 20 good questions to ask an interviewer?

When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, the last thing you want to say is that you don’t have anything to ask. Even if your job interview didn’t go well, asking the right questions could potentially turn the odds in your favor. However, it’s equally important to respect the interviewer’s time and not bombard them with too many questions. 

Here are a 20 questions worth asking:

1. What do you love the most about your job?

2. What made you consider choosing this company over others?

3. Ever since you joined the company, has your role changed in any way?

4. What’s one of the biggest challenges you’re experiencing in your role?

5. How has your department (or division) grown over the past five years?

6. What do you see yourself doing in the next five years?

7. What would my daily job duties look like?

8. What’s your favorite office event or tradition?

9. Who will I be reporting to?

10. Do you have a career mapping initiative in place?

11. What would be the next logical step in my career progression?

12. Do you offer any professional development opportunities?

13. What does the work culture look like?

14. Where do you see the company heading in the next five years?

15. In light of the recent economic conditions, what are you doing to keep layoffs at bay?

16. How has your company fared during the COVID-19 pandemic?

17. What are my team’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?

18. What other departments will I be collaborating with on a frequent basis?

19. What team-building initiatives do you have in place?

20. How do you ensure collaboration in a remote (or hybrid) setup?

What are the bad questions you shouldn’t consider asking?

As the saying goes, not every question is worth asking. While the interviewer will be happy to respond to your queries, some questions might rub them the wrong way, or make you appear uninterested. 

Here are a four types of questions you shouldn’t ask the interviewer:

1. Obvious questions

There are probably a few things that irk an interviewer more than questions to which the answers are readily available. For example, if you ask the interviewer what the company does, they’re likely to feel confused. After all, this information is available on the company’s website and social accounts. For this reason, it’s important to research and learn as much about the company as possible before heading to an interview.

2. Gossips and rumors

There might be chances that you’ve heard some rumors about the company, such as planned layoffs, illicit actions of an employee, or sale of a major division. Unless the company has expressly mentioned such news on their website or social accounts, it’s best to treat such news as rumors and avoid asking these questions during an interview.

3. Personal questions

The interviewer is probably more interested in your professional accomplishments and attitude at work, instead of your personal life. So, it’s important for you to reciprocate by not asking personal questions, especially about the interviewer’s race, gender, ethnicity, or marital status. The interviewer might not feel comfortable sharing this information, so respect their boundaries. 

4. Questions about promotion

While it’s okay to ask questions about career mapping and the next logical step in your career, it’s not a good idea to bluntly ask when you can expect a promotion. Your promotion will depend on your performance, the company’s budget, and other KPIs, and you’re probably unaware of all these factors during the interview stage. It’s best to talk to your supervisor about this once you’re hired. 

Before going to an interview, you’ll want to be fully prepared. Learn more about Career.io’s Interview Preparation tool. 

Key takeaways

1. Job interviews are a two-way street. You want to know about the employer, and the employer wants to know more about you.

2. At the end of every job interview, the interviewer is likely to ask if you have any questions for them. This is your shot at making a solid impression.

3. When it comes to job interviewers, there are a couple of off-putting questions you shouldn’t ask the interviewer. Maybe save them for a later time!