Interview Tips – Closing Questions

Closing Questions at the End of the Interview

• It is important to remember that every interview is a two-way street.
• You should be assessing the employer just as much as they are assessing you, because you both need to walk away convinced that the job would be a great fit.
• So, when the tables are turned, and the interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” take advantage of this opportunity. It is the best way to determine if you’d be happy working for this employer and whether your goals are aligned.
• Amy Hoover, president of Talent Zoo, says there’s another reason you should always prepare questions: “It’s expected — and if you don’t ask at least two questions, you will appear disinterested, or worse, less intelligent and engaged than a prospective employer would like.”
• You should have at least four questions prepared in case your original two are answered through the course of the interview.
• But do not just ask questions for the sake of it, Hoover says. To benefit from them, you will need to think carefully about what you want to ask. And you will want to avoid certain questions.
• “Your questions can, in fact, make or break an interview,” she said. “If they are not thoughtful or if you ask something that has already been addressed, this can hurt you way more than it can help. Asking smart, engaging questions is imperative.”

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Closing Question Examples

Before you begin asking your questions, find out if there is anything they’d like you to elaborate on. You can do this by saying something like: “Yes, I do have a few questions for you — but before I get into those, I am wondering if I’ve sufficiently answered all of your questions. Would you like me to explain anything further or give any examples?”

Not only will they appreciate the offer, but it may be a good chance for you to gauge how well you’re doing, says Bill York, an executive recruiter with over 30 years of experience and the founder of the executive search firm Tudor Lewis.

If they say, “No, you answered all of my questions very well,” then this may tell you are in good shape. If they respond with, “Actually, could you tell me more about X?” or “Would you be able to clarify what you meant when you said Y?” this is your chance for a redo.

Potential Questions to Ask

01. Who do you think would be the ideal candidate for this position, and how do I compare?

Hoover recommends this question because it is a quick way to figure out whether your skills align with what the company is currently looking for. If they do not match up, then you know to walk away instead of wasting time pursuing the wrong position, she says.

02. Who would I be reporting to? Are those three people on the same team or on different teams?

It is important to ask about the pecking order of a company in case you have several bosses, Vicky Oliver writes in her book “301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions.” If you’re going to be working for several people, you need to know “the lay of the internal land,” she says — or if you’re going to be over several people, you probably would want to get to know them before accepting the position.

03. How has this position evolved?

This question lets you know whether this job is a dead end or a steppingstone.

04. Who do you consider your major competitors? How are you better?

This question is not for the faint of heart, but it shows that you are already thinking about how you can help the company rise to meet some of its bigger goals, says Peter Harrison, CEO of Snagajob.

05. Beyond the hard skills required to successfully perform this job, what soft skills would serve the company and position best?

Knowing what skills, the company thinks are important will give you more insight into its culture and management values, Hoover says, so you can evaluate whether you would fit in.

06. How would you describe the company’s culture?

Hoover says this question gives you a broad view of the corporate philosophy of a company and of whether it prioritizes employee happiness.

07. Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications?

While this question puts you in a vulnerable position, it shows that you are confident enough to openly bring up and discuss your weaknesses with your potential employer.

08. What do you like most about working for this company?

Hoover says this question lets you “create a sense of camaraderie” with the interviewer because “interviewers, like anyone, usually like to talk about themselves and especially things they know well.” Plus, this question gives you a chance to get an insider’s view of the best parts about working for this company, she says.

09. Can you give me an example of how I would collaborate with my manager?

Knowing how managers use their employees is important, so you can decide whether they are the type of boss that will let you use your strengths to help the company succeed.

10. Can you tell me what steps need to be completed before your company can generate an offer?

“Any opportunity to learn the timeline for a hire is crucial information for you,” Hoover says. Asking about an offer rather than a decision will give you a better sense of the timeline because “decision” is broad, while “offer” refers to when it is ready to hand over the contract.

11. How would you score the company on living up to its core values? What is the one thing you are working to improve?

Harrison says this is a respectful way to ask about shortcomings within the company — which you should be aware of before joining. As a bonus, he says, it shows that you are being proactive in wanting to understand more about the internal workings before joining.

12. What are the challenges of this position?

If the interviewer says, “There aren’t any,” you should proceed with caution.

13. If you were to hire me, what might I expect in a typical day?

This shows your eagerness about the position, Harrison says, and it gives you a better idea of what the job would be like daily, so you can decide whether you want to pursue it. “A frank conversation about position expectations and responsibilities will ensure not only that this is a job you want, but also one that you have the skills to be successful in,” he says.

14. What have past employees done to succeed in this position?

The main point of this question is to get your interviewer to reveal how the company measures success.

15. What type of employee tends to succeed here? What qualities are the most important for doing well and advancing at the firm?

This question shows the interviewer that you care about your future at the company, and it will also help you decide if you are a good fit for the position, Oliver writes. “Once the interviewer tells you what she’s looking for in a candidate, picture that person in your mind’s eye,” she says. “She or he should look a lot like you.”

16. How do you help your team grow professionally?

Harrison says this question shows that you are willing to work hard to ensure you grow along with your company. This is particularly important for hourly workers, he says, because they typically have a higher turnover rate and are looking for people who are thinking long-term.

17. When your staff comes to you with conflicts, how do you respond?

Knowing how a company deals with conflicts gives you a clearer picture of the company’s culture, Harrison says. But more importantly, asking about conflict resolution shows that you know dealing with disagreements in a professional manner is essential to the company’s growth and success.

18. Is this a new position? If not, why did the person before me leave this role?

This might be uncomfortable to ask, but Harrison says it’s not uncommon and shows you are being smart and analytical by wanting to know why someone may have been unhappy in this role. If you find out they left because they were promoted, that’s also useful information.

19. Will I have an opportunity to meet those who would be part of my staff (or my manager) during the interview process?

Getting the chance to meet with potential teammates or managers is essential to any professional interview process, Hoover says. If they do not give that chance, “proceed with caution,” she says.

20. What are some of the problems your company faces right now? And what is your department doing to solve them?

Asking about problems within a company gets the “conversation ball” rolling, and your interviewer will surely have an opinion, Oliver writes. Further, she says their answers will give you insights into their personality and ambitions and likely lead to other questions.

21. How do you evaluate success here?

Knowing how a company measures its employees’ success is important. It will help you understand what it would take to advance in your career there — and can help you decide if the employer’s values align with your own.

22. What is your timeline for deciding, and when can I expect to hear back from you?

This one tells them you are interested in the role and eager to hear their decision. “Knowing a company’s timeline should be your ultimate goal during an interview process after determining your fit for the position and whether you like the company’s culture,” Hoover says. It will help you determine how and when to follow up, and how long to wait before moving on.

23. Where do you see the company in three years, and how would the person in this role contribute to this vision?

Asking this question will show your interviewer that you can think big-picture, you’re wanting to stay with the company long-term, and you want to make a lasting impression in whatever company you end up at, Harrison says.

24. What is your staff turnover rate, and what are you doing to reduce it?

While this question may seem forward, Harrison says it is a smart question to ask because it shows that you understand the importance of landing a secure position. “It is a black-and-white way to get to the heart of what kind of company this is and if people like to work here,” he says.

25. I read X about your company in the news. Can you tell me more about this?

Questions like this simply show you have done your homework and are genuinely interested in the company and its leaders.

26. What is one of the most interesting projects or opportunities that you have worked on?

“I like this question because it gets me thinking about my own experiences, and my response changes depending on what I was or am working on — and in theory, should always be changing if I’m challenging myself and advancing”

27. Is there anything else I can provide to help you make your decision?

This simple question is polite to ask, and it can give you peace of mind to know that you have covered all your bases, Hoover says — “it shows enthusiasm and eagerness but with polish.”

PrepTalk Questions

• What’s one thing that’s key to this company’s success that somebody from outside the company wouldn’t know?
• What’s your (or my future boss’) leadership style?
• What are the three things I can contribute in the first 100 days to make you feel great about hiring me?
• Which competitor worries you the most? Is it their strategy, execution, market size, or something else that worries you?
• How has work-from-home impacted your team’s productivity? During COVID, what’s been the best boost for your team productivity and morale?
• Why did you decide to hire for this position instead of the many other roles you could have hired for? What about this position made you prioritize it over others?
• If I get the job, what does great performance look like? What are the key accomplishments you’d like to see in this role over the next year?
• How open is the company with information? What information is shared with the employees (revenues, costs, operating metrics)?
• If we are going to have a very successful year in 2022, what will that look like? How does this position help achieve those goals? (This question is a surprisingly easy way to come across as somebody who is always looking ahead.)
• How does the company do performance reviews? How do I make the most of the performance review process?
• What is the rhythm to the work around here? Is there a time of year that it’s “all hands-on deck” and we’re pulling all-nighters, or is it pretty consistent throughout the year?
• What are the plans for “back to normal?” What will normal look like? How are you thinking about time in-office vs. flex vs. remote for the workforce? (Please note nobody knows the answers to these questions yet, so expect a conversation, not a conclusion.)
• Is this a new position, or an existing position? If new, why was it created and what are the expectations?