Asking good questions is very important in setting yourself apart from other candidates in the interview process and in further demonstrating your sincere interest in the position you are interviewing for. The question and answer portion of the interview typically comes toward the end of the interview and is great opportunity to demonstrate that you have done your homework and to make a personal connection with the interviewer.

Remind yourself of these basic principles when asking questions:

• You are trying to demonstrate genuine interest in the opportunity, the company and the interviewer.
• It is very important to sound appreciative of the opportunity you are interviewing for.
• Avoid “what’s in it for me” questions (benefits, compensation, etc.) unless the interviewer brings them up, and even then don’t dwell on them. There will be plenty of time to get these questions answered once the company has decided that they want you on their team.
• Remind yourself that the first person you need to win over in the process is the interviewer. By asking questions directed at the interviewer, it is possible to further establish a solid connection between you and that individual on a personal basis.

Here are some solid example questions you can use:

• Tell me about the most successful person you know in the company that is in this type of position and why you think they are successful in the role.
• What are some of the traits that would make someone a good candidate for this position?
• What would be a standard “day in the life” of somebody in this role?
• Has (insert company name here) launched any new initiatives and/or major process improvements over the past couple of years? If so, what were the results?
• What are the three most important things you are looking for as you evaluate candidates for this position?
• Why is this position available?
• What would a new hire need to do to exceed your expectations?
• How will the person who accepts this position be evaluated? By whom? Are their internal training opportunities for those interested in improving their performance and expanding their skill set?
• What are your company’s growth plans?
• What opportunities do you see in your marketplace over the next few years?
• What challenges do you see in your marketplace over the next few years?
• What books are on your company’s recommended reading lists right now.
• Who are the internal and external customers the person in this position serves? How would I interact with these customers and how could I exceed their expectations?
• If you could change something about the performance of the people in this role, what would it be?
• How much time and money are devoted to research and development?
• Are new areas of technology being explored? How do you think they will these affect the business in the future?
• How does the person in this role contribute to the long-term goals of the company?
• What are some barriers I could face in this position and how could I best address them?
• Why do you enjoy working for this company?
• Why did you choose to join the company?
• What has kept you at this company?
• What opportunities exist for international assignments? (IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS)
• What is the next step in the interview process? I am available to meet with you again on X, Y and Z (dates). Which works best for you?