Asking Thoughtful Questions
Use the last few minutes of an interview to show real interest, learn what the job is actually like, and spot problems before you accept.
Overview
Most interviews end with 'Do you have any questions for me?' It is easy to treat this as a formality, but it does two jobs. It shows the interviewer how you think: whether you prepared, what you care about, and whether you listen. And it is your best chance to learn what the job is really like before you decide.
The interviewer is listening for preparation, curiosity and judgment. A question that shows you read about the team and thought about the role lands well. A question you could have answered with a quick search, or no question at all, suggests low interest. The best moments come from a follow-up question on something the interviewer just said, because it proves you were listening.
- Preparation — Builds on something you learned about the team — 'So what does the company do?'
- Fit to the person — Matches what this interviewer knows — Asks an engineer about benefits
- Listening — Follows up on their answer — Reads the next question off a list
- Judgment — Probes challenges respectfully — Negative framing, or gossip
- Your decision — Tells you something you need to know — Only flattery
What you will be able to do
- Prepare two or three questions for each interviewer, matched to their role.
- Ask follow-up questions that show you listened.
- Rephrase risky questions so they get honest answers without sounding negative.
- Use your questions to find warning signs about a team before you accept an offer.
Interview questions
- Do you have any questions for me?
- What questions should I ask, and to whom?
- Which questions should I avoid or rephrase?
- How can my questions help me spot a team with problems?
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