10 Best Responses to “Do You Have Any Questions For Me?”

Looking for suitable jobs, and then applying for them can be quite stressful. But it pays off when you get a call back from your dream company. You feel like a weight has been lifted off of you. With one hurdle down, now's the time to prepare for the next one — the interview.

Preparing for an interview can be quite nerve-wracking for anyone. You have to do extensive research on the company that you’re interviewing for, the business it’s in, and the job role that you are going to take. It almost gives you the feeling of appearing for the dreaded board exams!

But have you ever considered that preparing for an interview is nothing like preparing for an exam? Yes, that’s right. In an interview, an applicant’s key objective is to win over the interviewer by conveying to them why they are fit for the role. To do that, you should imagine your interview more like a presentation or a pitch, where you are selling yourself as the best solution to your interviewer’s needs. A good presentation requires thorough research, but it also requires a killer hook line or a truly inspired idea to capture its audience. 

In an interview, this purpose can be served by a well-crafted answer to the question that is asked by every interviewer, “Do you have any questions for me?” To give you an insight into what we mean by a “well-crafted” answer, we have compiled a list of some of the best responses. 

"Could you elaborate on the role? What would a typical day at work look like for someone in this position?”

By asking this question right off the bat, you would establish yourself as a serious candidate, who is interested in the job. Though more importantly, asking this question would give you an estimate of what the role might entail. In many companies, especially start-ups, the key responsibilities for various roles overlap.

Asking this would give you a clear idea of what is it that you would be doing in the job role. It would also allow you to assess what skills are required for the job, and which areas you might need to work on. This, in turn, can then influence your decision.

“What are the qualities that you’re looking for an ideal candidate in this position?”

More often than not, finding the right job is more about getting the right fit rather than an increased pay-check or a promotion. Asking this question would help you analyse whether you would be a good fit for the role and the company. It would also help you gauge what the company values in an employee and tell you about the culture of the company.

“Is there anything in my work history that makes you doubt my suitability for this position?”

At the outset, it might seem to be an extremely bold move to ask this, but greater the risk, higher the reward! If during the interview, you felt that the interviewer might have had some reservations about your candidature, then this question will allow you to address it head-on.

It also gives you the scope to mention any relevant project or other achievements that you had in your last job, which you feel could tie in with the role you’re interviewing for. 

“What prospects for career growth do you see for someone in this role?”

If you want to know how soon you can be promoted, this might be a better way to frame it. Instead of portraying you as self-serving, it portrays you as a self-starter. Someone who wants to know the ins and outs of the job before committing to it. The best part, it shows you as someone who wants to evolve and grow along with the role and the company, portraying you in the best possible light. 

“What other teams or department would I be working with?”

The antidote to boredom or stagnation in a job is cross-functionality. Pay close attention to the answer to this question, it would help you understand how dynamic the job profile is.

This could help you weed out options, which might not be the best place for you. If you have a job with very limited cross-functional interactions, it means that you're likely to have limited options for branching out.

“What do you think are the likely challenges that would be faced by someone in this position?”

It's better to go into a job having a clear idea of what you might have to face on a day-to-day basis, rather than having an idealistic vision in your head. This is something you wouldn't be able to garner from the job description.

On the other hand, once your query has been answered, it would allow you to bring up similar challenges that you've handled in the past; further highlighting you as the perfect candidate!

“What are the benchmarks for measuring success in this role?”

A question like this might not seem necessary for a role in the domain of business development or sales, where quantitative benchmark can help one judge their performance. But it is certainly a great question for someone who is joining a department like human resources or communication. It would give you an insight as to what is it that you would be required to do to excel at this job and help you assess if you are up for it.

“What is it that you love about your job here?”

Your success in the interview also depends on how well you can engage the interviewer. To be able to do that, you need to establish a rapport with them. You can do that by asking this question. This will also allow you to suss out any red flags. If the interviewer is very forthcoming with their answer and is eager to tell you about the company and its culture, then that's great.

However, if you see the interviewer coming up with vague answers or offering uncomfortable silence, that could be a sign of a problem. All the more reason for you to pose this question!

“What are the company’s views/ policies regarding …?”

Put the things that matter to you in this blank. Perhaps, you love travelling, so you would like to work for a company that is not stingy about vacation days. Maybe you are a single parent, so you often need to work from home.

Maybe you are someone who thrives in a flat-structure company, where approachability is key. Whatever is a serious concern for you, now’s the time to raise it. After all, you would be spending upwards of 8 hours a day in this place, it’s only right that you select the one that’s best suited to your long-term goals.

“Could you give me an idea about the time you will take for the next steps?”

Of course, if nothing comes to your mind, then this practical question is still a better answer than simply saying no. This would give you an estimate about the time the company might take to respond, which could save you the trouble of staring at your phone, waiting for it to ring. 

Now that you’ve gone through these responses, remember, it’s never a good idea to not ask questions at the interview. You should seize this opportunity and enquire about the aspects of the job that might not be readily apparent. Not only will it impress the interviewer, but it will also help you make an informed choice.