Top 15 Questions To End The Interview With

How to impress the hiring manager during the interview? The candidates all over the world are obsessed with this question. Interview coaches share the advice on what to wear, what to say and how to influence the interviewer’s opinion using the body language.  One of essentials of any successful interview is the art of asking the right questions.

If your resume was good enough to get your foot to the door, the final outcome of application process will depend on how well you promote yourself in-person. The candidate makes the strongest impression at the beginning of the interview and at the end of it. So, when the interviewer says the closing “Do you have any questions for me?” it’s the best time for the relevant, thoughtful questions.

Why ask interview questions?

• To demonstrate your genuine interest in a position
  some interviewers see the situation when you don’t ask any questions (or ask weak ones) as the lack of your interest in a position. Thus, they won’t see you as a top priority candidate;
• To learn more about the role
  usually, the job listing and the interviewer give you just the basic information on what the job will involve. By asking the right questions, you’ll dig deeper into what the role really assumes and find out whether that’s something you need;
• To make an impression
  if you finish the interview with smart questions, you’ll likely stay top of mind for the person who interviewed you. And, if you support that impression with a well-written thank you note, this will dramatically increase your chances for the job!

The best questions to ask at the end of the interview:

Questions about the company

The questions about company culture and goals have their own specifics. Firstly, they should demonstrate you’ve done the homework and are educated on the company’s main facts. Needless to say that the questions like “What do you guys do?” or “How long has the company been around?” can turn all your efforts into nothing as they show you didn’t even bother to learn basics about the company. Here are the examples of good questions:

• Where do you see the company coming in the next five years?
  They probably have asked about your long-term goals – now it’s your turn. Maybe, the company is growing which will enable you with advancement opportunities. Or maybe, they don’t have a clear strategic plan and you should think twice before getting in;
• Who is your major competitor?
  Of course, you know about the company’s competitors as you’ve researched this in advance. Nevertheless, by asking the interviewer to expand on this issue, you can get some valuable insights you wouldn’t get anywhere else, Biginterview.com suggests.
• What is the biggest challenge the company is facing right now?
  Every company and department has their challenges, so asking about them will help you identify where the company is going and how big are the tasks set before the employees. Moreover, you’ll have the chance to show how your skills can come handy and demonstrate your proactive approach to problem solving.
• How would you describe the company’s organizational culture?
  The corporate culture and philosophy determines everything – from what you’ll have to wear and whether you will have to work late hours to your relationships with colleagues and your professional growth. So, it’s always better to know in advance to avoid making the wrong company choice.
• Do you provide corporate trainings, courses, etc.?
  This question is to find out whether the company takes care of the professionalism and growth of their staff. How often and on which terms do they offer corporate trainings? If they don’t offer training at all, it’s a warning sign. 
• What do you like most about working for the company?
  Although this question might embarrass the interviewer, it’s definitely worth asking. Thus, you’ll have an idea of the company’s culture.

Questions about the role

Asking about the role, the expectations from the perfect candidate and how to succeed in it are your top priority after the interview. By asking the right questions, you’ll likely discover the information the hiring manager didn’t intend to say and gain the better understanding of the job.

• How would you describe the success in this role?
  This simple question can serve you in multiple ways. It clarifies the management’ expectations from you and avoids any miscommunications. It also provides you with information to help you determine whether the role is a good fit personally for you.
• Is there anything that would prevent me from getting a job offer?
  Right after the interview, you hardly have an idea of whether the hiring manager liked your candidacy or not, and this question helps to dot the i's and cross the t's. If the interviewer names something that embarrassed them in your resume or during an interview, you can address this issue straightaway.
• If I got the job, what would my first weeks look like?
  First of all, this one shows your enthusiasm and eagerness to do this job. It has a big practical meaning, too – to learn which skills you’ll have to utilize and which tasks to complete on a daily basis. For instance, the “Office Manager” title might assume lots of possible responsibilities, so it’s helpful to find out before you’re onboard.
• What’s the typical career path for someone in this role?
  It’s easy: if you want career advancement, you prefer to know where this kind of position might take you in the future. This question helps you to clarify how the promotion system within the organization works and demonstrate your orientation on the professional growth, which is always valued.
• What are the biggest challenges for this position?
  This is another question to give you a clue what exactly is expected from you as an employee. To impress the hiring manager even more, you can come up with suggestions on how you would handle these challenges.
• From your perspective, what I’ll need to learn to get up to speed on this role?
  During the first weeks it is assumed that you hone the skills which are required for this position. However, when you ask this question during an interview, it shows that you’re proactive and willing to succeed in a new role. This question is better to use during the following rounds of interviewing process, though.
• Will I have the chance to meet my direct boss and team?
  Businessinsider.com states that introducing you to the prospective coworkers is the crucial part of an interviewing process. It gives you an insight into the office environment and the leadership style in the department. Be cautious if the recruiter doesn’t give you this opportunity.
• Is there anything I can provide to show you I’m a great fit for the job?
  Maybe, the recruiter will benefit from another reference or the samples of your work. Anyway, it’s helpful to ask this to demonstrate your willingness to work with the company.
• What are the next steps I need to take before the company generates the offer?
  This is an example of a great closing question. The interview is over, and if the hiring manager didn’t bring up the subject, be sure to go ahead. Ask whether you’ll need to take any other steps and when it’ll be appropriate to follow up on the status of your application. Not only this shows your eagerness to take on the job, but also saves your time: if you don’t hear from them within 1 or 2 weeks, you can rewrite your resume and apply elsewhere.

It goes without saying that you should not neglect the opportunity to ask the questions related to the company, the position and the employer’s expectations. Not only you can learn about the position in deeper detail, but also will check if the company culture, goals and leadership style align with your goals. Moreover, asking the smart questions will help you strengthen the impression you’ve made on a hiring manager: a person who is willing to contribute to the company before he’s onboard evoke more trust and get more consideration.

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