by Gilbert Carrara, MD
At the end of an interview, when an interviewer asks you if you have any questions, he or she is not just giving you the opportunity to clarify job responsibilities. On the contrary, the interviewer is actually gauging your interest, your engagement, and your knowledge of the company (i.e. how well you’ve done your homework). By asking the right questions, you can learn more about the potential position andfurther demonstrate your expertise, interest, and qualifications.
So when your interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” make sure you have several questions prepared. You can start with these:
- Who is your company’s core customer?
- What attracts them to your company?
- What does the customer know about you?
- What challenges do they face?
2. Who is your company’s chief competitor?
- What do they do well?
- What do they do not so well?
- How do you differentiate yourself from the competition?
3. What do you think your company does really well and helps contribute to the success of the company? Or, if it is a new position, how do you see this role contributing to the success of the company in 2015?