Congratulations, you’ve landed an interview! You've chosen what to wear and practiced answering interview questions. You’re prepped and ready for the big day.

At the interview you are confident as you nail the questions. The interview is wrapping up though and the interviewer asks, “So, do you have any questions you’d like to ask?”

Your mind goes blank as you start to panic - I haven’t prepared for this part of the interview.

This is a common mistake job seekers make. Asking questions shows interest in the organisation and can often put you ahead of your competition.

Here are some tips to help you prepare and ask questions at your next interview. 

1. Do your homework

Research the company through their website and social media channels. From there, see if you can form some questions from what you’ve read. This shows that you are genuinely interested in the job and have taken the time to prepare.

Cat sitting infront of a lap top looking at the screen

2. Ask open-ended questions

Avoid questions that get answered with yes or no. Try asking questions that start with who, what, when, where, and how. These usually work well because they need more than a one-word answer.

Asking questions that need a longer answer keeps the conversation going. You might be able to steer the conversation back to talking about an area of strength of yours.

illustration of a magnifying glass on a black board. sounding it are the words - What? Who? Where? How? When? Why?

3. Prepare questions in advance

Don’t wait for sudden inspiration. Prepare strong questions in advance, even if you already know the answers. Some examples might be:

  1. Why is the position available?
  2. What do you enjoy most about working here?
  3. When do you think you will finalise your recruitment?
  4. What are the biggest challenges someone in this position might face?
  5. What would success look like in this position?
  6. What is the company culture like?
A hang holding a stack of cards. on the card ia an image of a question mark.

4. Questions not to ask

On the flip side, there are some questions you should NEVER ask your interviewer. Here are some examples:

  1. When can I take my first vacation?
  2. Do I have the job?
  3. How long do I have to wait before I get a promotion?
  4. What is the worst thing about working here?
  5. Will I have to take a drug test?
  6. Is internet usage monitored?
An older men wearing glasses, a shirt and tie. His hands are cupping is mouth and he has a shcked expression on this face.

Remember, you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Employers like to see that you are excited to work for them. Check out more interview tips – and good luck!

Images: istock