So you’re in the interview. Everything is going well, and you’ve not just answered all the interviewers’ questions, you’ve even cracked a joke or two and made the interviewer laugh (you devilish rogue, you).

But when you reach the end of the interview, you are asked the all important, final question. “Do you have any questions for us?”.

This is where a lot of interviewees like yourself go wrong. Because while you might be ready for the interview to end and get gone while the goings good, you should always say yes.

Because interviews aren’t just about giving great answers to interviewers’ questions. (Although that is also pretty important). The interview is also about showing you’re interested in the role and company, that you’re enthusiastic about the potential opportunity and engaged with the interviewer.

Which is why it’s so important to prepare interview questions to ask at the end of a job interview.

5 Tip For Questions You Should Ask at the End of a Job Interview

Before we get into the actual questions, there’s a few tips to remember for the questions you should ask at the end of a job interview:

1. Don’t ask no questions. As we’ve already said, you want to ask some questions want to show interest in the role. And it doesn’t hurt to create a positive connection with the interviewer either.
2. Prepare extra questions, just in case: We strongly suggest having 5+ questions ready for the interviewer. Because some of the questions you have prepared beforehand may be answered during the course of the interview.
3. Ask the right questions: The questions you ask should be focused on the role, the company, and even about the interviewer’s personal experience. However, the questions you ask shouldn’t be focused so much on what the company can do for you, or about salary or company benefits. You don’t want the interviewer to think that all you’re considering is what’s in it for you.
4. Ask a variety of questions: Ideally your questions should cover a few different aspects of the role. For example, the questions you can use below cover: the future of the role, the opportunities available at the company, the social atmosphere, the company culture, and the interviewers personal experience.
5. Ask questions you really want to know the answer to: Obviously you want to put your best foot forward for the role and ask insightful questions that further your chances of getting the role. But this is also your opportunity to find out any information that you want to know, that may change your decision on accepting the position or not, if offered.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, here’s some of the questions you should ask at the end of an interview.

The 8 Best Questions to Ask at the end of an Interview

1. What can I do to exceed your expectations in the first three months in the role?

In the interview you have likely already discussed what the first three months in the role will look like. This is a great question to ask, because it builds on what you have discussed and shows that you’re not there to do the bare minimum, you already want to know how to impress them.

This is also great information to learn because it tells you which parts of the role are most important to the business, and so you know which of your experience and skills to emphasise.

2. What are the opportunities for training and development?

Employers want someone on their team who is driven and constantly looking to develop themselves: Which is exactly why it’s great to ask about training and development opportunities. 

It also shows that you’re already committed to the long-term, and plan on sticking around. And that you also plan on becoming a more skilled and valuable employee to the business,

3. What are the career progression opportunities, and what do I need to achieve to reach them?

Similar to the question above, this question shows that you’re interested in the long-term. That you don’t even have the position, and you’re already wondering about how you can progress within the company shows you’re eager, determined and proactive. 

Additionally, it shows that you understand the promotion won’t be given to you. You want to know exactly what you need to achieve, so you can get there sooner, rather than wait for it to come to you.

4. What are any potential reservations you have about me as a candidate for this role?

Unless you’re their absolute dream candidate, the interviewer may have one or two reservations about hiring you. And while it can feel awkward asking this question, it allows you to address any of these reservations and overall increases your chances of getting the role.

It also shows a little humility and self-awareness, as you recognise that you’re not the perfect candidate. But it also allows you to defend yourself and correct any mistakes you might’ve made earlier in the interview.

5. What does the next 5 years for the company look like?

Here we’re switching from questions purely about yourself, to some questions you should ask about the company. Because it shows that you also have a real interest in the future of the organisation, and your interest in being there for the long-term. 

The answer will also give you useful information on the company’s progression plan, the job market of the industry you’re entering, and your job security. Which is always nice to know.

6. What’s the company culture like?

It’s important to also find out whether the company culture is one that you will enjoy working in. If you know that you’re a social person who enjoys being part of a team, but are told you’ll be working on your own with lots of autonomy, then this may not be the role for you.

It can also give you insight into what the business see’s as a priority: Work-life balance, flexibility, employee happiness etc.

7. What has your experience been like working here?

It’s always nice for an interviewer to be asked about their own experiences. Which can tell you a lot about the reality of working at the company.

Pay attention during their answer, as there can be telltale clues that perhaps working at the business isn’t the fairytale you’ve been sold throughout.

It can also help to build a personal connection with the interviewer, which is great for your chances of securing the opportunity. An interviewer can be interviewing lots of potential candidates in a short period, and if you’ve created a personal connection, you’ll be one of the first they think of.

8. Can you tell me about the team I will be joining?

Questions like this can help you understand how the company is structured, and who you will be working with and reporting to. And any insight you can gain into the people you will be spending a lot of your time with is great to have, and will help you make a more informed decision.

If you’ve previous experience working with a team, it also allows you to highlight some of the successes you’ve had collaborating with others. Conversely, if you haven’t worked in a team before, it allows you to say how excited you are to have the opportunity to.

And at the end of the day, one of your interviewers may be someone you’ll end up working alongside. And they’re only human, and may want to hire someone they think will be both a better employee, but also a strong member of the team who they’ll enjoy working with.

These are, in our humble opinion, the best questions to ask at the end of an interview. But they’re not the only ones. If none of these are right for you, we’ve listed plenty more options below for you to choose from.

5 Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview about Training and Development

As we’ve discussed, asking questions around training and development is great for showing the business that you’re interested in being there for the long-term. As well, as showing that you’re eager to continue in your career and take the next step:

1. Can you tell me about your onboarding process?
2. Are there any opportunities for lateral promotions, and learning new skill sets?
3. What are some examples of successful employees who have been in my position, and where have they progressed to?
4. Are there any industry events or conferences I would have the opportunity to attend?
5. Does the business have any partnerships or outside coaches that come into the business to provide training?

5 Questions to Ask About Your Personal Progression and Performance

While you don’t want every single question you ask to be solely focused on you, it can be good to ask a few questions about how you can succeed and progress:

1. How often will I have a review, discussing progression, salary and my performance?
2. What are the expectations for my position after 3, 6 or 12 months?
3. What are the main metrics or goals that will be used to evaluate my performance?
4. What are the opportunities for progression, and how can I reach them?
5. What will my personal progression plan look like?

5 Questions to Ask About the Interviewer

Of course you want to create a connection with the interviewer, and hopefully gain a bit of insight into the reality of working at the business. Which is why it’s good to ask about the interviewers own personal experience:

1. What’s your favourite thing about working here?
2. What has your own personal progression looked like so far, and what will it look like?
3. Why did you decide to join the company?
4. What’s a challenge that you commonly face in your role?
5. Are there any upcoming projects that you’re interested in being involved in?

5 Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview About the Company Culture

The questions you ask at the end of an interview are also your opportunity to gain some insight into the company culture 

1. How regularly does the company host both formal, and non-formal social events?
2. Is the work environment more collaborative or more independent?
3. How does your company ensure remote and hybrid employees feel like a part of the team and have the same opportunities?
4. Do your team spend time together outside of work hours and formal work events?
5. How did the company adapt to the shift to remote working during the pandemic?

5 Questions to Ask About the Company

It’s good to show interest in the company and its future, beyond what you can just find on the company website and social media.

1. What exciting new projects or client accounts will I have the opportunity to work on?
2. Where does the company plan to be in 5 years time?
3. What are the company growth plans, and how can I work to support these?
4. What is most important to the company currently, and what are the current goals?
5. How does the company ensure that its employees maintain the company values?

Here at Herd, we coach digital marketers through the interview process everyday. For more interview tips, have a look at the articles below:

• How to use the STAR method interview technique.

• How to write a follow-up email, after your interview.

• Body language tips for your interview.

• Questions to expect in your digital marketing interview.