Questions for You to Ask
Asking questions indicates to the interviewer that your job search has been well thought out. Your interest in the position resulted in thorough research and preparation.
The following are samples of questions prepared to start you thinking about questions you can ask in an interview. Do not memorize these samples but do sit down, study them and figure out how they translate into suitable questions for the position you are interviewing. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer, such as:
- What do you think are the three key skills/strengths vital to this position?
- What characteristics do the achievers on this site seem to share?
- Is there a lot of team project work?
- Will I work independently or with others?
- What would I be expected to accomplish in the first six months on the job? In the first year?
- What are some of the site's ongoing and anticipated special projects?
- What are the challenging facets of this job?
- Describe the work environment.
- What are the site's strengths and weaknesses?
- How would you describe your site's personality and management style?
- What are your expectations for new hires?
- What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?
- What is the overall structure of the site?
- Is this a new position or a replacement? What happened to the person who held it previously?
- Who directly supervises this position?
- Are there any recent or anticipated changes in the structure of the site (reorgs, cutbacks)?
- Can I provide you with any other information to help you in the decision making process?
- Can you tell me about the anticipated commute?
- How many other candidates are you considering for this position?
- What is the next step in the hiring process for this position?
- How soon can I expect to hear from you?
Do not ask about salary - all conversations for this need to be directed to Recruiting before the interview takes place.