Best Questions to Ask During a Job Interview

• Being ready with questions to ask in a job interview is key for making a good impression.
• One expert recommends asking position-focused and culture-focused questions.
• Both types of questions will help you learn more about the role and the company.

Imagine you're a hiring manager. You've narrowed down your next hiring decision to Candidate A and Candidate B.

In the last round of interviews, you give each candidate a chance to ask questions about the job.

Candidate A asks thought-provoking questions about the position and company work culture. Candidate B says, "No thanks, I don't have any questions."

Who do you think gets hired in the end?

It's Candidate A by a long shot, according to careers expert Josh Domitrovich.

"Employers will give candidates time to ask questions. This is where candidates can stand out," said Domitrovich, director of career and professional development at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

"It's always critical to have questions ready."

But what questions should you ask? Domitrovich recommends splitting them in two ways:

1. Position-focused
2. Culture-focused

Here's a list of questions recommended by Domitrovich and other career experts to help ensure the job is a good match for your qualifications and interests.

Position-Focused

A good interviewer will likely answer most of your questions about the job. But, more clarity always helps.

These position-focused questions, recommended by Nadia Ibrahim-Taney, a career coach and founder of Beyond Discovery Coaching, will help give you an even clearer picture of what to expect:

1. What are the most important things you'd like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job?
2. Who/what teams would I be working with directly?
3. Are there any important projects that will be an immediate priority?

Culture-Focused

It's normal to be hyper-focused on impressing the interviewer. But, job seekers often forget that they also have the power to decide if they want to work for the company.

Erica McCurdy, a career coach and managing director of McCurdy Solutions Group, LLC, suggests these questions to learn if the company is a good fit:

1. What made you decide to be part of the (company name) family?
2. What is the biggest thing you look forward to each week?
3. What do you wish you'd known before coming to this company?

Other Questions

Here's a list of other suggested questions to ask the interviewer to get more clarity on job duties and the company's work culture.

1. What are the top three skills you're looking for from a candidate to succeed in this role?
2. If you could describe the culture of this company in one word, what would it be?
3. How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?
4. What are the biggest challenges of this job?
5. What is the best part of working for this company?
6. What does a typical day look like?
7. Can you show me examples of the projects I'd be working on?
8. How will you measure the success of the person in this position?
9. How have people stood out in this role previously?