How to Answer the "Do You Have Any Questions for Me?" Question

U.S. News gives their opinion on how to answer the dreaded "do you have any questions for me?" interview question:

What the question (often) really means is: "Do you have any simple questions that I can easily answer and which will not make me reconsider my tentative decision to offer you the job?"

Because of this, the applicant should avoid asking:

• "What is the benefits package?"
• "How much vacation time would I get the first year?"
• "To whom do you report?"
• "How do you like working here?"

I agree with the first of these three, but I've used something similar to the last question with no problems at all. I say something like, "This seems like a really great place to work to me because (fill in the blank.) Is that the same reason you like working here or are there other reasons you enjoy it?"

I've used two other questions in the past:

• "What tasks will it be important for someone in this position to complete successfully?" I ask this if the subject didn't come up during the interview. Then, once they tell me, I say something like, "That's great. I think I'll be able to do those successfully just like I did when I (fill in the blank from past job -- I detail a similar experience and list my quantifiable accomplishments.)

• "Is there anything about me that makes you think I'm not the best person for this position?" If they list anything, I say something like, "I understand how you can think that. I didn't have the chance to share (successful experience from pervious job) with you." Then I proceed to answer their concerns citing past job successes in the areas they think I'm lacking.

In other words, I use the questions as springboards to keep selling myself, my skills, etc. Of course, I've rehearsed all of these answers before to the interview, so they slide off my tongue with ease. It looks like I'm speaking off-the-cuff, but I'm not really, which leaves a good impression with the interviewer.

How about you? How do you respond to the "do you have any questions for me?" question?

Comments

[J in FL]

Thanks for the tips...

I'll be browsing through your career posts in the coming months as I prepare to make my exit from the crib ..err, I mean college.

[Todd]

"When can I start?" Great question that finishes the interview with a little humor and let's them know that you are enthusiastic about the position. This isn't a good approach if you felt you came across desperate in the interview already however.

[vilkri]

Good questions to ask. I will keep these in mind. They may come in handy one day.

[Canadian]

But what if those taboo questions about benefits and vacations are actually ones that I need to know the answers to in order to decide if I want the job? Vacation time in particular is very important to me, and if I were to look for a new job it would have to be pretty darn good to justify less vacation time than I presently get.

[Mr. ToughMoneyLove]

There are ways of learning about vacation time and other benefits without asking the interviewer. I would ask something along the lines of: "I am very interested in this position with your company. How do you think my qualifications line up with the requirements of the position?" That's the kind of question a salesman would ask to close a deal, without being offensive.

[Duane]

If they are at liberty to share, ask how the business makes a profit. While this may sound like an obvious question I've found that the answers are always surprising.

Once you know how they measure profit in the business you can reasonably analyze if your contribution to the team will be an asset and sell on this point. Otherwise you are leaving it to their imagination to connect the dots.

Put yourself in the interviewers chair for a moment. If you interviewed 10 people and one of them clearly explained how they would contribute to the bottom line who would you hire?

[FMF]

Canadian --

Wait until you get the job offer to ask them. Or, if you use a recruiter, you can ask him/her prior to a company meeting.

[k]

A question I have used which has always received a great response and given some insight into the company but without sounding negative is - if there was one thing you could change about company x what would it be?

[Greg]

I skip the "what is in it for me" questions until the job is offered.

I do ask questions along the line of job responsibilities, to whom I report to, expectations. I always finish with "Are there any reasons why you would not hire me?"

Worst response I received to "any questions?" was "What is your workers comp like? I am suing the company I work for now over a back injury."

[Slinky]

Many companies list their benefits right on their website. A lot of time you don't even need to ask. I sometimes ask something a bit more general for the last one, "What do you like about working here?" Then it doesn't put them on the spot as much because there's generally an easy out. ie, 'Oh, I love the flexible hours. It makes things so much easier.'

As a developer, I often ask how things are structured, shared resources vs teams, the size of teams, if they have a specific position on a team in mind or if they're just looking for developers in general, etc.

[Kim]

Questions I've asked in the past, and as an interviewer, I'd be absolutely prepared to answer:

1. What's your management style? (Asked if the interviewer is the person you'll be reporting to.) If the first person you're interviewing with will not be your manager, then I'd ask who I'm reporting to. Often, the interviewer will have an org chart for you.
2. What's does the career path look like for this position? (Good idea to explore whether you're moving into a position with potential upward movement.)
3. What does the atmosphere in the department or team look like? eg. fast-paced, cyclical, very deadline-driven?
4. What does the performance evaluation process look like?
5. What types of training should I expect if I am hired?
6. How does the company feel about employee development? Some companies are willing to pay for seminars, networking organizations, education for employees. Some don't make that a priority.

[Jaydia]

I have an interview coming up soon, and these tips sound really helpful. It's nice to get feedback from those who have been in the 'hot seat'.