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Do you have any questions?

Disciplines > Job-finding > Interview questions > Do you have any questions?

The question | What they are looking for | How to answer | See also

The question

Do you have any questions?

Would you like to ask us anything?

What they are looking for

This is typically the last question in the interview.

They may be looking for how much you have thought about the job and the quality or innovation in that thinking.

They may want to find out what research you have done about the company and whether you would 'hit the ground running'.

How to answer

Never say no. You should always ask one or two questions (not lots). To do this you should have a good selection available from which to choose a good question.

Remember the Recency Effect -- that the interviewers will recall the last thing you say more than other things, so make this a good one. This is your chance to shine, Many jobs have been won and lost on this question so do make sure you are well-prepared with a good set of potential questions beforehand.

You can ask for more details about the job. This gives you the opportunity to show that you are keen and thinking ahead. Beware of showing that you are having doubts or seeking reasons why you might not want the job.

• Is this a new or existing position?
• What opportunities would there be for travel?
• If I got the job, would I be taking over a defined set of tasks or would I have a clean sheet to redefine what needs to be done?
• Does the job include involvement in the strategic planning process?
• What budget would be available to implement these things?
• What engagement with customers would I have?

A clever approach, if you can pull it off, is to look for any objections they have to you getting the job so you can handle them now.

• Do you have any unanswered questions?
• Are there any remaining doubts you have that I can clear up now?
• What qualities are you particularly seeking?
• What else could I tell you that would lead you to offer me the job today?

Beware with this, by the way, of asking intrusive or too-cheeky questions that will actually decrease your star in their eyes.

A neat trick is to reverse the tables, asking the interviewer about themselves. Do not make this a grilling -- the key is to leave them feeling good! This also gives you information about

• Why did you join the company?
• What do you like about working here?
• How long have you been here?
• What are the secrets of success here?
• What jobs have you done in the organization?

Link the questions to the job. Do not just show off your knowledge of the company or ask rhetorical questions with obvious answers. Neither ask questions that make the interviewers look foolish. The interviewer should think 'Good question' and then be able to answer it.

To what extent will the PRK acquisition affect the job?

You may have the space for two or three questions here. Make each one count by showing different attributes of your self.

You website has a customer comments system. When I would be visiting them it could be very important to know what they have said. What access would I have to that system?'

Do ask one clear question at a time. Do not confuse them nor ask compound questions. As appropriate, frame questions with brief contextual statements or ask sequenced questions where the answer to one question leads to the next question.

What stock management system do you use?

...

Good -- I know that system. Would I be able to utilize past data for imprvement activities? I reduced shipping costs by 20% in my current but it did require full dbm access.

Do not ask questions that show you up as being focused first on the money or what you can personally gain from the company. Remember that you can ask the trickier questions, such as about salary, development opportunities etc. after you are offered the job.

See also

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