Six Best Questions Candidates Ask to Impress Interviewers
When the interviewer says, "Do you have any questions?" they are not being polite. If you answer, "Nope, I'm good!" or “No you have answered all my questions during the interview.” you just threw away the opportunity.
Smart closing questions give you an edge over other candidates (CNBC). The best ones talk business and results, and they turn a Q&A into a real conversation.
“Interviewers are the most impressed with your questions than any key message you make during the interview.”
If you subscribe to Interview Mastery you can learn more by watching the 4-minute lesson titled “2.17 - Questions You Ask"
For Recruiters:
Coach your candidates to ask one or more on these six questions.
For Job Seekers:
Learn these six questions then tailor them to your style and the opportunity.
The Six Questions:
1. "What would need to happen in the first 90 days for you to know you hired the right person?"
Ninety days is the most common window employers use to judge fit and competence. This question gets the interviewer picturing you already succeeding in the job.
2. "What's the biggest problem I'll need to solve, and what's gotten in the way so far?"
Now you're talking business. Former Spotify HR leader Dan Space warns that generic questions get canned answers, while specific ones make you memorable (CNBC). Follow up the interviewer's response with how you solved similar challenges in the past.
3. "Which performance metrics does the team measure, and how are they trending?"
Every business keeps score using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Ask to see the department's business scorecard. If nobody can name a single KPI, that's a clue, not a quirk.
4. "How does this role help the company hit its biggest goal this year?"
This links your desk to the boardroom. Bonus: you'll learn whether the job is mission-critical or a "nice-to-have" that vanishes at budget time.
5. "What concerns do you have about my background for this position?"
Gutsy? Yes. Smart? This question's purpose is to flush out any perceived weaknesses the interviewer has formed in their mind. Your response gives you the opportunity to provide additional information to address the interviewer's assessment of your talents.
6. What do you feel my strengths are for this position?
This question and the previous one are intended to get feedback you can use immediately, during the interview, to ensure the interviewer accurately perceives your ability to do this job.
Make it a conversation
- Pick two or three questions. It's an interview, not an interrogation.
- Listen, then follow up. Your best second question comes from their first answer.
- Recruiters, debrief. The answers are gold for prepping your next candidate and serving your client.
Sources
- The No. 1 question to 'always' ask in a job interview, CNBC Make It, July 2024
- Asking this popular job interview question is 'a waste of time', CNBC Make It, July 2024
- Questions to ask at the end of an interview, Leaders.com
