7 Tips on How to Ask the Right Questions at a Job Interview

@Mike goes without saying that you would have to temper the questions depending upon how the interview is going. As @Erica stated - it depends upon the flow of the conversation whether or not you would discuss any of these. But remember - this is your interview also. You are interviewing the company to find out if you want to work there. So why wouldn't you ask some of these to make sure that this is the company and culture that you are looking for in a new position. If you don't ask, you will never know until it's too late. No one wants to go through all of the hoops to get a position only to find out that it's not for them and that they would not have accepted the job offer if they had just asked some of the tougher questions in the interview.

This is certainly an aggressive strategy for an interview. How do you make sure that you don't come off as too confrontational and demanding? I don't want to give the interviewer the wrong idea and start off on the wrong foot.

I think the types of questions people should ask oftentimes depends on the conversational flow during the interview. I remember the worst interview I ever went on - it was a struggle to get through a simple conversation let alone find out any useful information about the company. I was nervous and the hiring manager was not good at interviewing people. At the end, I didn't have any questions because I know I didn't want to work there. I smiled politely, got up and left. I guess they didn't want me either because they never called back.

There are some great ideas for questions here. I also like to ask questions directly of the interviewer to get more information about the company. For example, I might ask the interviewer how long she has worked at the company or what she likes best about the company. This moves the conversation past quick answers that the interviewer might have prepared in advance.

This article really flips the script, reminding us that we also have opportunities to find out more about prospective employers. We may need jobs, but we can also be discerning about the companies we work for. There's little point, after all, in signing on with a firm only to discover that it doesn't value its employees.

@Duncan, When you don't ask for more details about the job, you may miss out on important details about what's expected of you when you start. Companies vary widely in how well they outline the job description in their postings, and the same position at two different companies can have vastly different duties and trajectories. This especially true in small companies where employees take on more responsibilities or companies where they have high turnover for reasons that aren't immediately obvious. You also have to consider that most people apply for multiple jobs at once, so asking about the specifics of the position can help you compare the benefits of each workplace.

Thanks for the comments. @Abbey if you don't have any questions at the end of the interview, that's fine. Just ask for the next steps. You could also ask if you can contact him/her if questions should arrive after you depart. Kind of leaves that door open just a little bit. @Shannon it certainly can be an eye opener when you turn it around and start asking them the questions. It's interesting that they all responded with pretty much the same response but probably pretty telling about the company. If you could hear enthusiasm from them when they answered your questions, then yes it certainly is worth continuing to pursue. And don't forget - send in those thank you notes.

I have always hated getting to the end of an interview and being asked if I have any questions. Most often, this wasn't something I had planned for in advance, and most questions I really did have have already been answered. In this case, is it okay to let the interviewer know that all my questions have been answered throughout the interview, or should you have backups just for instances like this?

My most successful interview experience occurred when I asked a panel of employees what they liked most about their jobs. It was enlightening to learn that almost all of them mentioned the cohesive work environment and camaraderie that existed. This made me want to work for the company even more.

Thanks @Jane. Most of us don't think about intellectual property until we are made to sign a form after we are hired. @Lydia certainly it is fine to concentrate on the company's need at the present time rather than on personal long-term goals. But, you don't want to get into a dead end job, either. So I would think that you would need to temper it on both ends and find a way to ask what you need to know without pinning the hiring manager against the wall.

Some companies have budget issues, and may not be able to give definitive answers about issues like professional development. Sometimes you might be interviewing for a position or to be part of a team that will help company out of a rough patch. Is it sometimes better to focus on the value you would bring to the company in the immediate future rather than on your long term plans?

Because I'm in a creative field, one of the questions I always ask employers is about intellectual property. Some companies attempt to own everything you make, even after hours, and oftentimes for a year or more after you leave the company. This is never acceptable to me. If I make something outside company time, I own it. Therefore, I always make sure I ask about that and if it's in the employment contract, we negotiate the wording to my satisfaction.

I agree you should ask questions about the team and the company culture. The answers let you know if you can get along with your co-workers and what expectations your supervisor may place on you. For instance, should you expect to put in 20 hours of overtime each week, or do you get to leave early each Friday for working your butt off the other four days of the week?

I have to politely disagree with the idea of asking questions about the job itself in order to decide whether or not you want to take the job. I believe by the time you decide to go for that job interview, you have already made up your mind to take up the challenges that come along with whatever job you land. For this reason I think its needless to ask such questions.

@Jacob I guess it's a personal decision. I ask questions as we go along in the interview. At the end, the interviewer will typically ask if you have any other questions. If you do, this is the time to ask. Maybe it does feel a bit rehearsed but at least you get your questions answered so that you know whether or not you want to continue pursuing the position. And they don't have to be stock questions, either. The questions that you ask should be on issues that are of importance to you. Just don't be asking salary or benefits questions UNLESS the interviewer brings it up at which time all bets are off! Always remember that you are interviewing the company at the same time as they are interviewing you!

Is it just as effective to ask engaging and well thought out questions throughout the interview as it is to have a list at the end of the process? Having a list of prepared, stock questions at the conclusion of an interview always feels a little rehearsed to me and feels a bit out of the flow of the conversation.