6 Essential Questions to Ask at the End of a Job Interview

Preparing for an interview is key to its success; and preparing the questions you’ll ask at the end of an interview is critical, too.

Asking the right questions at the end of an interview shows several qualities, including that you want to know more and are engaged with the company beyond the job specification. It can also paint you in a better light and help you stand out.

Asking the right questions at the end of an interview doesn’t just reflect well on you but also provides you with much-needed insight to qualify the company and the hiring manager and assess whether the role is right for you.

The key to preparing your questions is to think outside the box about things you want to know—don’t ask questions just for the sake of it, and don’t ask questions to which you can find the answer just by googling it or looking at their website.

Here are some top questions that might give you a better insight into the company, the role, and the potential career progression.

What would the day-to-day responsibilities of this role look like?

What do you want the successful candidate to achieve in the first six months?

How would you describe the company culture?

What learning and progression programmes does the organisation offer?

What would your ideal candidate look like, and how well do you think I match the requirements of this role?

What are the next steps in the hiring process?

What would the day-to-day responsibilities of this role look like?

Very few jobs look the same daily; however, the answer to this question should give you a strong idea of what will be expected of you. It may also help you reiterate some of your additional skills that may be suited to the job.

What do you want the successful candidate to achieve in the first six months?

Any great salesperson will have a 30-, 60-, and 90-day plan, but the company will most likely have one in mind, too. Finding out the company's expectations allows you to see whether your plans align, helping you decide whether the company is right for you. The information they share on KPIs and targets will give you the chance to talk about your ability and confidence to achieve them.

You can also ask about what current employees have achieved within their first six months so you can benchmark expectations against reality to see whether the earning potential is realistic and achievable.

How would you describe the company culture?

Although a company’s culture can’t be faked internally, it can dress it up to look better than it is to people on the outside looking in. Asking what the company culture is like shows you’re willing to invest in the company and truly interested in the mission, environment, and values. Once you have an answer to this question, you can also assess whether their values align with yours so you can decide on whether the company is right for you.

What learning and progression programmes does the organisation offer?

Great companies constantly develop their workforce, and upskilling is a quality you want your company to have. They should want their company to grow, which can only happen if its workforce grows with it – not just in numbers but also in knowledge. You want to know how the company will support your professional and personal growth if you plan on staying there for a long time. Knowing how the company will support your continuous development shows good insight into their culture and the success of their current employees. Every day should be a school day.

What would your ideal candidate look like, and how well do you think I match the requirements of the role?

This is a great question to get instant feedback on the interview. It also forces the hiring manager/interviewer to reflect on the interview instantly and give you some honest feedback. The answer may also highlight a concern about a skill/experience gap you may have, which you can address immediately.

Whatever the answer, it will give you some indication of whether the interview has been a success or not.

What are the next steps in the hiring process?

This question is often forgotten at the end of an interview, leaving the candidate wondering when they will hear about a decision or whether there are 3 more interviews to be had. Asking this question sheds light on the recruitment process and shows you’re interested in the next stages.

Oakstone tip: Remember that interviews are two-way meetings. They are a chance for the company and hiring manager to get to know you and for you to get to know them and determine whether the role is right for you. Prepare the questions you want to know the answers to and make sure you make the right decisions about your career.