A job interview is equally your opportunity to interview the company. Having your questions answered is incredibly important to help you see if an opportunity aligns with your values, salary requirements, desired culture, and future.

When  you’re asked “What Questions Do You Have For Me?”, it’s not just an opportunity to flex how much you know about the organization, but to uncover the information that you need to confirm if the role and the organization are  a good fit for you.

For an overview of the questions that pack the most punch in a job interview, grab the free download at the link here: 10 Questions To Ask In An Interview.

I’m going to tell you how to frame your questions to get the most authentic responses. 

1. Team Dynamic

It’s helpful to know the dynamics of the team and organization when considering a new job.

Is it siloed with everyone working remotely without touching base, or are there regular check-ins and touchpoints on Slack?

I’ve worked for a company where we had check-ins every morning, four times a week to start the day. It was a nice way to touch base, build rapport, and ease into the day. I enjoyed those meetings, but something like that isn’t for everybody. 

It helps to get specific. For example, if you ask “What’s the team dynamic like?,” you will probably get a general answer that it’s collaborative, innovative, and supportive – it’s lovely. Instead, get specific with your questions: What hours does everyone work if you’re curious about flextime? Can you tell me about a team-building activity if you want to know if there are opportunities to connect in person if you’re interviewing for a remote or hybrid position? 

Specific questions will help you get a sense of the organization and look out for red flags.

2. How will they keep you?

Most of my clients are ambitious professionals interested in professional development and planning for the future. When we’re considering job offers together, we always talk about the opportunities for growth at the organization.

Instead of asking “what are the growth opportunities in this specific role in the company?”, I would ask for examples of current employees that have moved around the organization.

Some employers care more about getting the right people staffed at their organization, so they might explicitly tell you that their goal is to get you in the door and find the right role for you. If that’s the case, don’t be shy about asking for examples of how that has played out for other people at the organization.

Do they have a professional development program or talent pipeline, or have all of the same people been in the same roles for 20 years with little room for advancement?

If future opportunities are a priority for you, a lack of a development program might be enough for you to know it’s not the best next step for your career.

3. Ask for the job

At the end of the interview, a lot of people ask about what the next steps are in the interview process and then the meeting ends. My recommendation is to never be shy about ending your interview by asking for the job.

“What don’t you know about me that you NEED to know for me to be your candidate of choice?”

Asking the question with this kind of phrasing shows that you are assertive and interested in actively pursuing the position. And another question just might occur to the interviewer that could make a difference.

If they have another question, great. If not, that’s not an issue either. Thank them, share something specific that excites you about that job, preferably something that the interviewer shared with you, and say that you would love to join their team in whatever language is organic for you.

The interview process can be long. Stay focused and continue to prepare and show your continued interest.

It’s a good idea to come with 10 questions to ask your interviewer, but don’t set a limit. This is a great way to show the employer that you’ve done your homework, you know a lot about their organization, you’re ready to make an impact, and you have practical questions that will let you hit the ground running.  Good luck!

Get the full list here 👉🏽 ‘10 Questions To Ask In An Interview’.