37 Questions You Could Ask

At some point in every interview, the interviewer will ask: "Do you have any questions?" In his book 60 Seconds & You're Hired [1], Robin Ryan suggests 37 questions that you may consider asking at some point during your interview. Notice that each question is designed to gather details about the position and to learn more about the organization's work culture and organizational environment.

• What are the day-to-day responsibilities that I'll have in this job?
• Whom will I be supervising?
• Could you explain your organizational structure to me?
• What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department or division fit in?
• Will we be expanding, introducing any new products or new services that I should be aware of?
• Could you describe to me your typical management style and the type of employee that works well with you?
• What are some of the skills and abilities you see as necessary for someone to succeed in this job?
• What are your major concerns that need to be immediately addressed in this job?
• What are the areas in the job that you'd like to see improved?
• What is your company's policy on providing seminars, workshops, and training so the employees can keep up on their skills or acquire new skills?
• What is the budget this department operates with?
• Are there any restraints or cutbacks planned that would decrease those budgets?
• What particular computer equipment and software do you use here? When was your last upgrade?
• Are any new equipment purchases planned?
• What personality traits do you think are necessary to succeed in this job?
• Will I be working as a par of a team or alone?
• What committees will I participate in?
• How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?
• To what extent are the functions of this department considered important by upper management?
• Are there any weaknesses in the development that you are working to improve?
• What are the company's long-term goals?
• What are the department's goals and how do they fit into the company's mission?
• What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?
• How does the reporting structure work here? What are acceptable channels of communication?
• What new endeavors is the company currently undertaking?
• What goals or objectives need to be achieved in the next six months? Next year?
• What areas of the job would you like to see improvement in with regard to the person who was most recently performing these duties?
• Would I encounter any coworker or staff person who's proved to be a problem in the past? If yes, please explain
• Describe the atmosphere of the office. (You are looking for clues on pressure and stress level with this question.)
• What types of people seem to excel here?
• Is the company quick or slow to adapt to new technology?
• How would you describe the politics of this organization?
• Can you give me an idea of the typical workload and extra hours or special needs it demands?
• Where is the person who previously held this job? (If fired, ask why; if promoted where did he or she go; if at a new job, get a better idea of why it was created.)
• How does the company promote personal and professional growth?
• How would you describe the corporate culture here?

Remember: By preparing your key questions ahead of time, you will make a professional impression at your interview and improve your changes of landing the position.

[1] Ryan, Robin. 60 Seconds & You're Hired. Penguin Books; 2000. 87 – 89.

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