Questions for Your Interviewer

April 10, 2015

It’s the hardest part of every interview – and unfortunately, it can make or break your chances. It’s the dreaded “And do you have any questions for us?” and it can be incredibly intimidating. The first secret to success is simple: You should always have a few questions stored in your back pocket for your interviewers. But don’t let it scare you! Let us teach you how to take this critical interview test and make it the shining moment of your interview!

Like we said before, it’s always best to have at least one question for your interviewers. They want to see if you’d be a good fit for their company, and you want to see if their company would be a good fit for YOU. Show them that you care, and that you’re invested enough to do your research. Look up the company’s website, social media, and blog. This will give you a good starting point on which to base your questions.

Let’s go through a few common questions you can ask an interviewer, and then discuss how to come up with your own!

“Where do you see this company going in the next five years?”
This is a great question to gauge your future with a company. If they seem positive and upbeat about their future endeavors, you can most likely feel confident that they’re looking for someone ready for a commitment. In turn, asking this question shows them that you could be in it for the long haul.

“How can an employee really excel in this role?”
Show the interviewers that you will do what it takes to be the best. They want to see your passion and determination, and this question lets them know that you are willing to go the extra mile.

“How do you see this role fitting into the company culture as a whole?”
This can let your interviewers know that it’s important to you that you contribute to the company. It can also give you some information about the company culture without having to explicitly ask.

Now that you’ve seen a few examples, where to go from here? If you want to personalize your questions further, go back to the research. Dig deep into the company’s past projects and endeavors so you can ask specific questions. They’ll be impressed with your knowledge of the company! If you can say “I saw that last month your company…” and continue with a follow-up question, the interviewer will be pleased that you took the time to notice their work. There is no such thing as being too prepared!

Overall, it can be intimidating when the floor is opened up to you during an interview. But don’t be afraid! Use that time to showcase your talents and your personality while gaining some insight at the same time. DES is here to help, if you need other interview tips check out our blog.