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

0:28This episode is brought to you by Accenture. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required, compatibility and availability varies 18+. All right. You're in a job interview. It's going great. You've answered all their questions quite well, you think.

1:03And then comes that question that turns the tables. You know the one. So, do you have any questions for me? When the interviewer opens up the floor to you, you don't want to be caught off guard. And you don't want to miss an opportunity to prove you're right for the job and gather crucial information. So it's a good idea to be prepared. Luckily, I'm here to help. I've got 38 really smart questions you can ask to show that you're right for the job. Ready? Here they are.

1:42Oh, still there. I guess I owe you some more context. Obviously, you're not going to ask all those questions, so let's break them down and I'll walk you through what you're actually going to do in that moment in the interview. Keep watching.

1:59First, let's talk broadly about what you want to accomplish with this portion of the interview. You have two goals here. One, asking smart questions will help you assess whether the job is indeed one you want. And second, those questions will help further demonstrate that you're the right person for the job. To achieve those goals, you'll want to pay attention to how you phrase your questions. First, make them personal. Instead of asking generic questions, make them specific how they pertain to you. For example, instead of asking, what would a typical day look like? Try asking, what would a typical day for me in this role look like?

2:38According to John Lees, author of How to Get a Job You Love, this is a great psychological trick that gets them to picture you in the role. He says, as soon as they visualize you doing the job, it's hard to let go of that image. Second, you want to build off the conversation, adding to what's happened so far. For example, you might ask about a project that they mentioned or a responsibility that didn't show up in the job description. The key is to make this portion of the interview feel like a continuation of the conversation. This requires that you be nimble in the actual interview and that you adjust your questions accordingly.

3:15But it's helpful to have a sense of the questions you'll ask and to have a few in your back pocket. Of course, as I said earlier, you're not going to ask all 38 questions that I'm about to share with you. So choose a few that are relevant to you, your interests, and the specific job, and write those down. Have a glance at them before you go into the interview so they're fresh in your mind. All right, let's get to those questions. All 38 of them. First up, questions about the job itself. These will help you zero in on whether this is a role you really want. These are pretty basic questions about the responsibilities you'll have, the projects you might work on, how your performance might be assessed.

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4:47it's to and from the studio or just for every day. The Breeze Lee collection is in store now, or you can shop online at lululemon.com. Here they are. Number one, what are your expectations for me in this role? Number two, what's the most important thing I should accomplish in the first 90 days? Three, what's the performance review process like here, and how often would I be formally reviewed? Four, what metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against? Five, What are the most immediate projects that I would take on? 6. How long before I will be meeting with clients, have responsibility for my own accounts, interacting with other departments, etc.

5:31Next, here are some questions that will get you clarity on the team you'll be working with. These get into the nitty gritty of how they see you fitting into the larger group, what that team's needs are, who else is on it, whether you'll be managing people, and what other departments you'll be working with? Let's look at those questions. Number seven, what types of skills is the team missing that you're looking to fill with a new hire? Eight, what are the biggest challenges that I might face in this position? Nine, do you expect my main responsibilities in this position to change in the next six months or a year?

6:07Ten, can you tell me about the team I'll be working with? Eleven, who will I work with most closely? What other departments or units will I interact with. 12. Can you tell me about my direct reports? What are their strengths? And the team's biggest challenges? A lot of times, the person interviewing you will be your potential boss. If that's the case, here's some questions for them. These will give you a sense of who you'll be working for, their relationship to the larger organization, and whether you want to be working for them. Here are the questions. Number 13. How long have you been at the company?

6:4214. How long you been a manager? 15. What's your favorite part of working here? And here are some smart questions to ask about the company itself. Do you want to get a good sense of whether the organization's goals and values align with your own? Here they are. Number 16. What are the current goals that the company is focused on, and how does this team work to support hitting those goals? 17. What gets you most excited about the company's future? 18. How would you describe the company's values? 19. How has the company changed over the last few years? 20. What are the company's plans for growth and development?

7:25One important note here, don't ask things you can find in a quick Google search. You don't want them to think you haven't done your research. Of course, understanding the company culture is crucial, so here are some questions that get at that. Number 21. How do you typically onboard employees? 22. What do new employees typically find surprising after they start? 23. Is there anything that I should read before starting that would help me have a shared understanding with my colleague? Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class.

8:08I got them delivered free from 1-800-CONTACTS. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-CONTACTS.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-CONTACTS. 24. What's your favorite office tradition? 25. What do you and the team usually do for lunch? 26. Do you ever do joint events with other departments or teams? 27. 27. What's different about working here than anywhere else you've worked? 28. How has the company changed since you joined? John Lees warns that you should take answers to these questions about culture with a grain of salt.

8:53It's highly unlikely that an interviewer is going to come out and say, this is an unwelcoming place to work, or that it's even a toxic environment. That's why slightly indirect questions like number 22, what do new employees find surprising, can be helpful. They get at company culture without explicitly asking about it. One tip related to remote work from Art Markman, the author of Bring Your Brain to Work. If the job you're interviewing for is going to be fully remote, be sure to ask specifically about how remote employees are onboarded and integrated into the company culture. Another critical element of the job that you want to understand is what your growth and career development will look like.

9:36You need to be sure you can see yourself in the role that you're currently applying for, but also that you can see a future for yourself in the organization. Here's some questions that get at career paths and development opportunities. Number 29. What learning and development opportunities will I have in this role? 30. How does the team I'll be part of continue to grow professionally? 31. Are there examples of a career path beginning with this position? 32. Number two, what are the common career paths in this department? 33, how are promotions typically handled? 34, where have successful employees moved on to?

10:18Okay, these last four are good questions to conclude with. They'll make sure that you've covered all your bases and that you know what's happening next in the hiring process. Here they are. Number 35, what am I not asking you that I should? 36. Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful? 37. Is there anything I can clarify for you about my qualifications? 38. What are the next steps in the hiring process? When wrapping up, you may be tempted to ask about salary or start date, but that's probably not a good idea. It's too early to ask about those things because you're not yet in a position to negotiate.

10:59Let them fall in love with you first, then negotiate. Here are some examples of other questions you shouldn't ask. Can you tell me about your health insurance? What are your paid leave policies? So, do I have the job? So there you go. 38 smart questions to ask and a few bonus ones not to ask. As a reminder, you're not going to ask all of them. Be mindful of the interviewer's time. And if you have just a few minutes left, choose two or three that are most important to you. You'll always have time to ask more questions once you have the offer in hand. Good luck! Thanks for watching. All of these questions are from my HBR article, which is linked in the description below.

11:41Do you have a piece of advice about interviewing for jobs? Or is there a topic you'd like us to cover in the future? Comment below. Bye for now.