Best Ways To Answer “Do You Have Any Questions?” During an interview

I had made it through the entire interview and this one important question was left “Do you have any questions for us?

I had prepared well for the interview and my rapport with the interviewer was amazing. When this question was posed to me, I didn’t have any, so I convinced myself that the best way to answer was to say “no” because I had all the details about the company and the role.

The interviewer was surprised because this was least expected. One week later, I received a regret message. I had not been considered for the role but what could have been the problem yet all the common questions and answers were at my fingertips?

Many questions without answers ran through my mind. That was neither the first time nor the second time because most of my interviews had never gotten me a job. I decided to book one on one interview coaching session where I had an opportunity to practice real interviews and understood how to respond to tricky questions. I also discovered the areas I had been making mistakes and I rectified them. I now have an upcoming interview and I am confident that I will ace it.

So, what is the best way to answer the question?

1. Always Have Questions

If you are not sure of the question to ask, ask yourself if you were to start the job tomorrow, what would you need to know? Responding “no” is not the best answer as this might put off the employer.

For instance, when I answered “I don’t have any questions” the interviewer felt that I was not interested in the role and this reduced my chances of proceeding to the next stage of the interview.

2. Ask Relevant Questions

It is important to have ready questions relevant to the role, the company, and how you will contribute to the company.

Questions about the role are a great opportunity to learn more about what you’ll do, for example, ‘if I was hired in this role, what would I be expected to achieve in the first three months? Are there any other important aspects of the job that we haven’t covered? Or what is the most important indicator of success in this role?’

Question about the company, ‘what is the company’s goal for the upcoming year?’ Questions about yourself, ‘what are your concerns about my candidacy?’

3. Have Several Responses

When preparing for the interview, have a list of responses for you to tackle questions that comes from any angle. It is advisable to have at least three questions to ask and avoid questions that focus on what the company can do for you.

4. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Ask the questions that make the interviewer explain in detail and avoid those that elicit simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers.

This will ensure that you get answers to questions you are looking for and keep the conversation going on.

For example, describe a specific challenge that might be encountered in this role and how successful a candidate can go about it?

Avoid questions like “Will I encounter challenges in this role?.

5. Avoid Touchy Topics

It is important to avoid questions that are not related to the job or the company. For example, asking about the interviewer’s personal life, salary, vacation time, and benefits.

Some of these questions should be reserved till you are offered the job because they may send the message of your benefits and not how you can contribute to the company.

Final Thoughts

The mission during the interview is to determine if you are interested in the job and make a good impression and one of the best ways is to have a well-thought-out response when asked a question.

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