38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: The Harvard Business Review Guide

The opportunity to ask questions at the end of a job interview is one you don’t want to waste. It’s both a chance to continue to prove yourself and to find out whether a position is the right fit for you.

00:00 The job interviewer asks, “So, do you have any questions for me?” What do say?
01:05 Focus on these two goals.
02:45 Questions about the specific job
03:33 Questions about the team
04:25 Questions for your potential boss
04:53 Questions about the company
05:38 Questions about the culture
07:03 Questions about professional development, career paths, and future opportunities
07:50 Closing questions
08:20 Questions to avoid
08:45 Plan ahead.

Produced by Amy Gallo, Jessica Gidal, and Scott LaPierre
Edited by Jessica Gidal
Video by Andy Robinson
Design by Riko Cribbs, Alex Belser, and Karen Player

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[elisevanderheijden]

Just a side note: if you're watching this from a country that's not the US, carefully consider whether the question will work in the culture of the country you're in. I watched this with 2 of my Peruvian students and there were definitely a few questions where we were like: "You would NOT want to ask this question in an interview in Peru because it's way too direct and will do more harm than good." :) Context is everything!

[PaperRaines]

I've asked this one question at the end of interviews with hiring managers (so the final round) ever since I first heard it years ago, and every time I've asked it the interviewer was pleasantly caught off guard and impressed. In my read of things it made a big impact and for what it's worth I've been hired every time I get that far in the hiring process. Here's the question:

*"Have I said anything or done anything up to this point that has made you think I'm not an optimal fit for this position?"*

I think it's really effective because it automatically, in an unexpected moment, leads the hiring manager to make a snap up/down judgement on whether or not you can work there. Assuming your interview went well, they'll answer "No" and then proceed to say all the things they like about you. In one exchange you put all of your strengths to the front of their mind along with the positive affirmation that you're qualified to work for them

Like I said I loved the question when I first heard it and as far as I can tell it's been a deal sealer for me in interviews

[rishav]

Its always how should one prepare for an interview. It's never how the Interviewer should prepare for taking interview. Based on my own experience, majority of interviewers i have faced do not know how to answer these questions when a candidate asks them.

[Da-Sheek]

Great questions. I suspect some interviewers would be like this guy is asking too many difficult questions and some be like this is a good intelligent candidate.

[marcosneto]

This video is amazing, this questions about specific departments like a team, company and the culture have increase your interest and authority about this job.

[cyberla]

Agh, I could have seriously used these last year lol. I few were known but a lot of great additional questioned listed! Thank you!

[motivationalquotesbrazil]

Excellent tips, for sure I’ll use some of them in my job interviews. Nowadays I feel the interviewers are not so open for questions, when the interview is almost done they ask if I do have question just to follow the protocol and then a quick bye and soon will keep in touch.

[jonbbradie]

I was in on an interview for my positional replacement, and the sales mgr (female) asked the candidate when she was due. She was NOT pregnant. Thank god she didn’t know the state’s employment laws when she didn’t get the job. 😳

[curiouslymavismade]

This was a great video, definitely ask a few of these questions on previous interview.

[gabrielsoloman]

Great article, indeed fantastic suggestions which were really useful

[sirisaksirisak]

Most of applicant often forgotten is your first impression.

[melindamucsi]

I have found this video incredibly useful. Unfortunately, recently I was not chosen as the winning candidate even though according to the feedback I received with the rejection, I was seen as the best-prepared candidate. Crazy, right? Unfortunately, it's my personality to do my best, so I cannot do less. But it's something I've been experiencing throughout my career: doing your best is not needed. So what questions can I ask that would indicate that doing your best is appreciated at a company? Thanks for all the tips!

[FreeVoice]

I loved It!
Thank you for This great sharing

[yazidbenabes]

Great question I realy like them and pretty sur that some of them are crucial to impresse the interviewer as they are not expected and prepared to these question about the company the team the culture and the expecting for me in 90 days to accoplish . Thanks again for the share

[yasip]

I love this video. Great tips and funny! ❤

[sampol]

Challenges we should know 1st .. that will pioneering the new trends

[michaellazar]

I interview with a lot of startups and tend to want to gather information on how things are managed, how the company is funded, its plan for profitability, and other such questions that get at the competence and viability of the company. How best to do that since when I ask these questions, I think it may come across as off putting?

[evaoldman]

As a manager with 2000+ interviews with candidates, I can responsibly state that the question the author of the video recommends "How long have you been a manager?" can fail your interview.

This question potentially contains two other presuppositions:
1. The candidate has doubts about the manager's competence - "Six months, well then I can see why you're asking me these questions..."
2. The candidate is about to apply for a manager's position.

When I hear such frankly failing questions, my response is - "please tell me how long I'm in my position is related to the vacancy we're talking about?" I've never had one case where a candidate was able to explain the reason for their interest. Usually he blushes and mumbles.

[Soulenergy]

6:38 Love it!! this is a really provoking one!!!
7:49 what have successful employees moved on to?

[LeonardSchokker]

there are some good questions there that are very useful! It could be interesting to discuss how people can best deal with situations where they do not experience a good fit with the job or the manager? How can you best deal with this in a constructive way?