Questions to ask after an interview that may just get you the job

Preparing for an interview is hard work, and the interaction itself can be downright nerve-wracking. And though you may have some questions in your back pocket for the end of the interview, what are you supposed to do if you have questions after you’ve left the interview?

To answer that and more, we sat down with Sarah Vermunt, Business Professor turned Career Coach and Author, who now helps clients find their way to feel-good work. In her books, Careergasm and Career Rookie, she provides no-nonsense advice and guidance to anyone looking to find a better fit professionally. 

As a career-change expert, she knows exactly how to make sure you ask the right questions at the right time during the interview process, but also in the correct tone.

We’ll share with you how to make sure that your next job is a true win-win and what exactly you should (and shouldn’t) ask during the interview process.

When closing the interview, how many questions should you ask?

At the end of your interview, you’ll likely be asked by the hiring manager if you have any questions for them. And this is really the best opportunity to ask the most important questions. Sarah recommends having five questions prepared because it’s likely that some will be answered during the interview.

She explains that “If you have no questions ready, it says ‘I didn’t do my research.’ You need to ask one or two thoughtful questions to show you’re prepared for this job and are truly interested. If you ask a lot more than two questions though, it says to the hiring manager that you’re too high maintenance.”

She provides a few example questions that you might ask:

• Who are the people I’d work most closely to in this position?
• What skill will I need to use the most in this role?
• What continues to be the biggest challenge in this position?

How to ask questions after you leave the interview

For some people, the pressure to perform well in an interview can mean that they don’t think on their toes as well. They’ve asked the questions they prepared, but there may be lingering questions that crop up after the in-person interview. Is it appropriate to go back and ask the hiring manager further questions?

Sarah says, “Yes, but do so thoughtfully. Choose your questions wisely. You don’t want to give the impression that you’re only interested in money or that you’re hunting for red flags (even though you are).”

The key is to soften any pointed questions and to make sure you ask them in a way that won’t raise red flags about you as a candidate. Sarah explains that you don’t want to ask a question like, “What’s turnover like in this position?” Instead, ask “How long do people stay in this position, and where do people typically go when they grow out of the position?”

Another soft question that you could ask is “How are you handling the decisions about the return to work? Who is consulted when making those decisions? How did you come to those decisions?” Sarah says, “How they answer this question lets you know if they are consultative with staff or if they take a top-down approach to decision making. It’ll also give you an indication of the broader culture in the organization.”

How to reword your burning (but sensitive) questions

One particular strategy that Sarah has her clients use is called front-loading the questions. First, the candidate tells their prospective employer a little bit about themselves and then follows it up with a pertinent question that relates to the quality they shared. Sarah provided a few great examples of how you might front-load your questions:

1. I’m someone looking to move into a position where I can grow. How does this position evolve over time and how do people tend to grow in it?
2. I’m someone who really cares about the relationships I form at work. I like the interpersonal nature of my career. Can you talk to me about the people I’d be working most closely with?
3. I am someone who likes a good challenge. Can you tell me what continues to be the biggest challenge in this position?

Sarah explains that “when you front-load your questions, you make it seem like you are more engaged and very interested in the position. Because you’re offering up a bit of personal information, which is carefully presented as a selling point on your employment, it makes it easier to ask difficult questions. This works beautifully when you’re in the interview and when you ask questions afterward.

Questions you should only ask after you have received an offer

The details of your new position should only be asked after you have an offer in hand. For example, if you’re curious about the specific hours, benefits packages offered, or the pay cycle, that’ll be handled by HR after you receive (and accept) an offer.

Sarah also advises her clients about one particular question you can ask after you receive an offer but before you’ve accepted. You can say, “I’d love to meet one or two members of the team. Could that be arranged?”

“This demonstrates that you want to meet the team, that you’re doing your due diligence, and that you’re eager and invested in this new position,” says Sarah. “If they say no, then that’s a huge red flag. It could be indicative of a subpar corporate culture or some other issue they don’t want you to know about before you start.”

2 important questions to ask yourself

After your interview, and after you’ve carefully asked your lingering questions to the hiring manager, Sarah would also encourage you to ask two important questions of yourself. Maybe you wait until the weekend, or one evening when all is calm to sit and really get clear on these two questions before you proceed with the new job offer.

Can I see myself growing here?

Even if you don’t foresee yourself in this position for a long time, you need to be able to grow. As a high achiever and someone who values their work and time, sit and think about whether you’ll have new experiences, challenges, and lessons that you could take with you into future positions.

Beyond salary, how will this job positively affect my life?

Sarah explains that people may take a position that’s not a good fit personally or professionally because they get dollar signs in their eyes. Of course, this is a crucial aspect of the job you’re interviewing for, but if it’s not the right fit, you could be on the fast track to burnout or simply dreading your new job. Either way, see if you can find a few ways that it will positively impact your life.