You should always go into an interview prepared with a short list of questions for your interviewers. Ideally, these questions should show that you’ve done research in advance, and they should always focus on the company, the position, and the team, rather than on pay or benefits. Remember, first you need to convince the decision makers that you’re the right person for the job, then you’ll be in a much better position to negotiate your compensation package on the back end. Don’t put the cart before the horse.
When preparing your list of questions, I always recommend including the following:
Do you have any reservations about my ability to do this job?
WHY?: Most likely your interviewers will say “no”, even if they do lack confidence in your abilities. Still, if you ask this question and they say “yes”, asking the question gives you one final opportunity to try to convince them otherwise. Think about your weaknesses prior to the interview and prepare to overcome any objections you may hear when asking this question.
When can I expect to hear back from you?
WHY?: The answer to this question will help you to set realistic expectations. It also encourages your interviewers to commit to a timeframe in which to get back to you and, if they don’t get back to you within that time frame, it gives you an opportunity to follow up with them without appearing pushy.
Are there any questions that I haven’t asked that you think I should be asking?
WHY?: This gives your interviewers a moment to reflect on all of the other great questions you’ve already asked, and also gives them an opportunity to chime in with relevant information that hasn’t already come up in conversation. This question is especially useful in scenarios where you’re interviewing with a panel that has one dominant interviewer and several passive interviewers. It gives the more passive folks a chance to speak up.
Keep going, friends. You’ve got this.