The 10 Best Questions to Ask at a Job Interview

You’re interviewing for a job. After 20
or 30 minutes, you’re asked: “Do you have any questions?”

The worst thing you can do is ask, “What is it your company does?”
(Hey, it has happened.) The next worst thing you can do is say, “Um,
nope, I don’t have any questions.”

[See 21
secrets to getting a job offer.]

You need to ask some questions! Asking questions shows your
interest in a company and makes you look smarter (smart people tend to
be inquisitive). Asking questions gives interviewers a chance to talk
about themselves, a thing most people love. And—this is
important—asking questions is a way to find out if you really want to work for these
people.

Bottom line: Don’t make the interviewer do all the heavy lifting.
Take an active role in the interview process and improve your chances of
landing a job.

So what should you ask? Here are 10 suggestions:

1. “Can you describe a typical day for
someone in this position?” If your interviewer appears to be
nervous or ill at ease, a non-abstract question like this is a good way
to get the ball rolling.

2. “Could you talk about the history of this position?”
Specifically, what you’re trying to find out is how long the position
has existed, how many people have held it, and why it is now available.

3. “What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last
person who held this job?” Or in other words, what kind of act
would you have to follow. This is also a chance to find out what
happened to your would-be predecessor. How this question is answered
will tell you a lot about the dynamics and expectations of this
workplace.

4. “What are this position’s biggest challenges?” You’re
naturally curious about the downsides of the job. But find out in a
way that makes you look confident and unafraid to tackle problems.

5. “In what area could your team use some improvement?”
Do you get an honest-sounding answer? This is important. It’s also
an opportunity to talk some more about how your skills specifically
match this company’s needs.

[See more career
advice at the U.S.News Careers site.]

6. “What are the prospects for advancement?”
Asking this demonstrates that you have ambition, and makes you look like
a big picture person.

7. “How would I be evaluated?” If you want to know
an employer’s true
priorities, and what is really important about the position under
discussion, ask this.

8. “Who are the most successful people in this company and
why?” A clever way to get a glimpse of a company’s
values/ethos/culture and how the powers-that-be measure success.

9. “Why do you enjoy working at this company?”
Okay, it’s a softball question. But the answer, and the tone in which
it is given, should tell you a lot. Basically, you are looking to see
some sincere enthusiasm here.

10. “Do you have any reservations about me or my ability to
perform this job?” It’s a gutsy thing to ask. But consider
doing so because it’s a great way to get real-time feedback on you and
your interview skills. Asking for criticism not only earns you points
for courage, it could result in some very helpful information.

P.S. Do not ask questions that would be easily answered by
consulting the company’s website. You will look unprepared, even lazy.
You’ll also lose the opportunity to gather some valuable insight about
this employer and the job on offer.

Karen Burns is the author of the
illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career
Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press.
She blogs at www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.