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Brilliant questions to ask the interviewer

At the end of an interview, it is common for the interviewer to ask you if you have any questions for them.

This is an ideal opportunity for you to show genuine interest in the job or course so it’s always a good

idea to try to ask one or two questions.

It can also be a good opportunity to reveal positive aspects about yourself that the interviewer’s questions

may not have elicited. Chosen carefully, you can use your questions to demonstrate your commitment and

your eagerness to develop your skills and knowledge.

If, by the end of the interview, all your pre-prepared questions have been answered and you can’t think of

anything else to ask, then be honest and say that all your questions have been answered for now, but you

will contact them if you need to ask them anything further.

Hopefully, if you have pre-prepared five or six questions, then not all of them will be answered. However,

only ask one or two of them at interview – a long list of candidate’s questions can be off-putting for an

interviewer and will annoy them if they are running to a tight schedule.

Here are a few questions asked by candidates and what we think

of them.

Question 1: What is the main function of the department that I will be working in?

Our view: This is an example of a question that you shouldn’t ask! It is the sort of question where the

candidate could easily have found the answer on the website or other literature about the organisation.

Questions like these show that the candidate hasn’t done much research into what the organisation does

nor how it operates, implying a lack of interest.

Question 2: I see on your website that you work with employees to develop individual training and

development plans. Could you tell me more about what training and development I might expect to

help me progress in the organisation?

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Our view: This is a good question as it shows that the candidate is keen, plans to stay in the job and is

interested in moving up in the organisation. It is also phrased in such a way as to show that the candidate

has read the organisation website and would now like to find out more details, which probably couldn’t be

found elsewhere in their literature.

Question 3: What sort of opportunities are there for me to gain relevant work experience whilst I

am studying?

Our view: This shows that you are motivated and keen to develop relevant skills during your studies.

However, do your research and check out the department’s and/or Careers Service website beforehand as

the information may already be there.

Question 4: What salary, pension and other benefits may I expect to be offered by your

organisation?

Our view: Although this is a valid question, the end of an interview is the wrong time to be asking it.

Bringing such topics up before you have been offered the job will make the interviewer feel as though

you are keen to find out what the organisation can do for you rather than using the interview as a way of

highlighting what you can do for the organisation. Candidates should leave topics like this until they have

been offered the job.

Question 5: I read in the newspaper last week that you are expanding into Europe. Is the

organisation expanding into any other markets? What effect do you think this will have on the

organisation in the short term and long term? How might this affect its employees?

Our view: This question starts off quite well. The candidate is demonstrating that they keep up with the

latest developments in the organisation (and the industrial sector in general), showing the sort of

commercial awareness that the interviewer will be looking for. However, the questions then start to

become too in-depth and too numerous. This could well put the interviewer on the spot and annoy them asit would take a while for them to answer – potentially making them run late for other interviews.

Question 6: Would you mind if I briefly tell you about another of my achievements that I feel is

relevant to the job / course, but which I haven’t yet had chance to talk about?

Our view: Although you should try to make sure you get across all your key selling points when

answering the questions posed by interviewers, there may be occasions when this isn’t possible. If there

are a spare couple of minutes at the end of the interview, you could use the opportunity to tell the

interviewer about other key achievements, experience or attributes that you have. Make sure that what

you highlight is relevant to the job or course you are being interviewed for.

Try out your own question

What question would you feel confident asking at the end of an interview?

Use the discussion to provide an example and take the time to comment on other people’s questions.

As always, please treat everyone with respect and try to be positive and constructive in your feedback.

© The University of Sheffield

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kaliyaperumal palanisamy

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Cecilia Kasiku Maruta

15h 15 hours

Very interesting topics

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Obialunamma Onoh

23h 23 hours

Great insight. Thank you.


16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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Adrian Smith

22 MAR 22 MAR

Do you have or use the services of outside agency's for HR/H & S or employment law?

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Kamila Sanders

22 MAR 22 MAR

Hi everyone! I have a question: what is the easiest way to talk about money??


16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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Jacques Lorfils

22 MAR 22 MAR

what do you like most about this company ?

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Maria Clara

21 MAR 21 MAR

Which of the aspects suggested in the project would be interesting to focus on to offer the best

contribuition to the department?

What can you suggest to improve the planning in order to manager better my route during the

course?


16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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Sai Wah CHU

21 MAR 21 MAR

Try to ask, see and understand yourself by installing a cheap selfie device of about USD30 which

enable you see yourself 7/24 under all circumstances. You could then question whether your

reactions are justifiable and acceptable or totally rejectable. If this is bad, any solutions based on

further questions oriented under what, how, where, when and why.

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Fatima Dias

21 MAR 21 MAR


16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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Would it be ok for me to ask why they have picked me for the interview? So as to have a feeling of

what my chances are?

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Olga Yashenkova

20 MAR 20 MAR

You made me think about types of questions that we should not ask at interviews. Thank you!

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Dyakova Ekaterina

20 MAR 20 MAR


16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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What sort of opportunities are there for me to gain relevant work experience whilst I am studying?

Are there numerous business trips accoding to this position?

Is this company involved in corporate volunterism?

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Maria Cabral

20 MAR 20 MAR

I'd ask why they openned the position I'm running for. I'd like to know if it had already existed, if

not what was the matter with the latter employee.

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Lara Oziofu Adewumi- Audu

20 MAR 20 MAR

I want to believe that it's good to put a question through to the interviewer but sometimes they are

not ready to answer most of the questions

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Tak K

19 MAR 19 MAR

Looking back to my experience of second selection interviewer, candidates should ask one or two

questions to interviewers because it is good opportunity in the last few minutes to show candidates'

concern to interviewers. Of course, candidates should prepare it enough.

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16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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- Why are you looking for a new employee for this position?

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Natalie Gaffney

19 MAR 19 MAR

If the interviewer is good, they have usually answered all the questions I would want to ask.

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Najwa Khalaf

18 MAR 18 MAR

Thanks a lot for these information.


f 16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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Alison Grasby

18 MAR 18 MAR

Thank you very much for the advice and tips. This is definitely the main part of the interview that i

struggle with as my mind always seems to go blank

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taha tadmori

18 MAR 18 MAR

useful information ,


f 16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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christian soto

18 MAR 18 MAR

thaks for these ideas and information!!

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Irene Marushko

17 MAR 17 MAR


f 16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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Thank-you for these ideas. It's a part of the interview I've very often struggled with.

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Howbasir Ramsoondar

17 MAR 17 MAR

Based upon what you have read in my resume and the answers i gave to your questions are there

any other answers i need to further expand ?If not , can you advise how soon can i expect a

feedback?

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Fahd Algaadabi

17 MAR 17 MAR


f 16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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Every things I say or do during interview should be precious and specific. At the end the result

should that you show yourselves. So do not loss any minute to advertise for your skills, your

personality and your ability to learn. Even when you ask questions to the interveiwers.

BUT; Do you think interveiwer like it when we show a perfect image for them?

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René Ramos

17 MAR 17 MAR

REVIEWING THE INFORMATION WEBSITE, I was struck PLAN WORK WITH STUDENTS

HAVE, I CAN EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS.

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Camila Quinones


f 16 23/03/2016 7:24 PM


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17 MAR 17 MAR

Why are you looking a replacement?

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