Questions to ask at the end of an interview

Asking questions at the end of an interview is an integral part of the process. This used to be one of my biggest struggles when I first started interviewing for co-op/internship positions. You are so used to just answering questions during the process that when it’s your turn to ask the question, you tend to hit a blank.

It is important to formulate questions based on how they interview went or if any new information that has resurfaced that you would like to probe more on. A common mistake people make is that they don’t utilize this to their advantage. It is an opportunity for you to understand the job better, or even share something about yourself that you feel is important for them to know. 

Having gone through the process multiple times, I have allocated a list of standard questions that I carry with me all the time. I usually tend to tweak the questions and cater it towards whatever position I am applying to or how the interview has went.

Standard questions to ask at the end that I always have at the back of my head are:

1. What will the day to day job look like for me?
2. As an intern, what are some growth opportunities available for me?
3. If I were to be a successful candidate, which technical skills do you think are important for me to learn in order to excel in this role?
4. What kind of leadership development programs do you offer?

These are the questions I tend to ask when I was interviewing for positions with little to 0 experience. I mainly kept the focus on me because a) it showed them I was serious about my self-development, and b) it was also helpful for me to learn whether I saw a future in the company.

As you interview more and gain more experience, you will develop a general knowledge of how things run so asking beginner-like questions may be futile or make you come across as ill prepared/experienced. Good questions to ask in this situation would be:

1. My career aspirations are ____________. What opportunities can [Company Name] provide that will lead me towards my goals?
2. Was there any point in the interview that made you doubt my skills or abilities to excel in this role? If so, I would like to further discuss that with you.
3. According to my research, you [Interviewer] are at a position that I would love to learn more about. Can you please briefly summarize your pathway and how [Company Name] has helped you along the way?
4. What is the company doing to stay true to their values and vision?
5. To help me understand the team environment better, what is your management style like?
6. What is one thing [Company Name] does better than their competitors?

BONUS (Covid-19 related):

1. How was the workplace affected during the ‘Work From Home’ period during Covid-19? Are there any lasting impact?
2. How do you maintain employee engagement in teams whose employees work from different locations?
3. What is one thing you will do differently once things start to get back to normal?

Hope the list above has helped! Let me know in the comments what are you go to questions to ask in an interview.