Questions to Ask
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“Not having any questions at the end interview is not good. It tells me the candidate is probably not really interested in my company or the job I am offering.”
--Anonymous Employer, 2006 U of M Employer Survey
ALWAYS ask questions of employers at the end of EVERY interview, even if you have completed extensive research on the organization and position.
Questions to AVOID:
- How much does this position pay?
- What are the benefits of the position? How much vacation time will I get?
- What does your company do exactly? (You should know this from your research!)
Excellent Questions to Ask:
- I noticed from your web site that (insert something from your company research here). How could this impact this position?
- How would you describe the work environment in your organization?
- What are some of the biggest challenges facing this department in the coming year?
- What type of training will be offered for this position?
- What do you like best about working in this organization?
- Who would be my supervisor? How would you describe his/her supervisory style?
- I have seen the qualifications for the job description, but could you tell me a little more about what you are looking for in an ideal candidate. (This can be good information to know for second interviews and can also allow you to highlight skills not covered in the interview.)
For additional sample questions to ask, review our Effective Interviewing Handout above under Related Handouts.