You’ve followed our advice in parts 1-3 of this series. The big day has finally arrived! You put on your well-fitting, unpretentious outfit. You get to the office without a hitch. Your handshake is firm, and you have answers to all the tough questions. The interview goes great! This job is yours. But then, just when you think it’s over, the interviewer asks:
“Do you have any questions for me?”
Don’t let this take you by surprise. It’s a very common way to end an interview, and for good reason. If the interviewee really is interested in the position, they’ll likely want to know a few key details. Keep a list of the things you want to know and check them off as they’re brought up during the interview—it’ll look good that you’re taking notes, but don’t spend too much time looking at the paper. Just check off necessities like “salary,” “working hours,” “office environment,” “vacation,” etc. If your interviewer doesn’t get to any of them, ask! Keep notes on anything he says that confuses you so you can clarify later—it’s better not to interrupt, and it will show you’ve been listening.
Other good questions to ask can come from part 3 of this series—Prepare. Your research about the company should have turned up certain things you want to know more about. Similarly, your research will have told you what questions not to ask. If you ask about information that’s easily available online, you’ll seem unobservant. A better idea is to ask specific questions about projects the company has completed, initiatives they’ve taken, or internal mechanics like how teams are organized. If you can, research things that your interviewer has done with the company. If she’s an entrepreneur, look up other projects of hers. If he’s a publisher, find out which authors he’s worked with. The opportunities are endless—just like with the googling you did in part 3, it’s all about knowing the right questions to ask.
It’s also a good idea to look around the office for personal clues. “Is that your family? Your children are adorable!” will make a much stronger impression than “How was your spring quarter last year?” Look around for any hobby equipment. “Is that a pilot’s license? I always wanted to fly a plane” will show that you’re observant and flatter them to boot.
Of course, you don’t want to take up too much of their time. They’ve read your resume and cover letter, so they know a fair amount about you, and if they’re a good interviewer they’ve just learned a whole lot more. Let this be your opportunity to learn about them, but keep in mind who’s interviewing who! Just like with your outfit and your resume, you want to leave a good impression. Concise, professional and motivated are the words to aim for, and spending twenty minutes asking about every detail of the boss’s office isn’t a good start.
So go ahead! Start writing a list of questions. And remember—everyone loves to talk about themselves. It shouldn’t be too hard.