Insights

Questions to ask at the end of your interview

The interview has turned out great; no awkward silences, you ‘just clicked’ with the interviewer and gave stellar answers to every question. You even made them laugh with a great anecdote from your previous role.

It’s getting close to the 40-minute mark and you can tell the interview is winding down, there’s a pause and then comes the inevitable “so that’s about it, do you have any questions for me?’’. It’s the common closing question to most job interviews and can trip up even the best candidates.

If you’re at a loss for words when this part of the interview comes up, take a look at our list below and be prepared for next time.

If you remember just a couple of these, you’ll be able to end the interview on a high note. Asking questions about the role and/or the company is a great way to show you are keen to secure the job.

What are the next steps?

This will give you an idea about the business’ interview process and how long you’ll have to wait till you hear back.

What is the business culture here?

This will give you more of an idea of the personality of the business and the atmosphere of the office.

Are there professional development opportunities here?

With this question you can learn about the career path for someone in this role and if the company invests in training for staff.

Can you tell me about the team I would be working with?

Here, you can get a sense of what type of team you would be working with if you landed the role. This could mean you get an insight into the humour and the work ethic of staff members.

Why is this role vacant?

With this question you can establish if someone has left the role or if it’s a new role that was created because management found a need for an additional person in the team.

What do you think all employees have in common here?

This helps you further establish the culture of the business and the qualities the interviewer may be looking for in a new recruit.

Does this company support any social causes?

This is a great question to open up a dialogue about civil responsibility and not-for-profit organisations. It can show the interviewer about your interest in making positive change.

Who is your top competitor?

This is a simple question that can give you more information about the business and what they do – and who they want to do it better than.

How did you start at this business?

This question not only helps to build rapport with the interviewer by asking them about their experience, but also helps you by illustrating what career progression looks like within the business.

What is the vision for the future? What do you see for the company in the next 5 years?

With this you can envision the career path that the role may lead to, as well as what kind of opportunities may be presented to you along the way. It also can give you insight into what kind of leadership the company is looking for.