Those pesky "end of interview" questions. What should you ask, why and how.

One of the most forgotten/overlooked parts of the interview... those questions you are expected to ask the interviewer at the end.  In my experience, many people struggle with this and either offer a simple, run-of-the-mill question "why do you like to work here", or give a "you have answered all my questions throughout the interview" answer.  However, the “do you have any questions for us” question provides the interviewee an opportunity to sell themselves one more time.   As the interviewer, I respect when someone comes prepared with their own series of tough questions for me.  This proves to me that they are engaged and interested in the position, company, and interview. 

Take the opportunity with this final question in the interview and ask the right questions to ensure that 1 - they know you are right for the job, and 2 - you know you are right for the job.

 One of my favorite questions to ask at the end of an interview (and not so much my favorite to get asked) is "Is there anything about what you have heard from me today that causes you any concern?".. or another version "Based on what you now know about me, are there any areas of this position you feel that I do not have the adequate experience, skills, or education to do?"

A little scary - right?  You are asking them to critique you right there!  Right in front of you!   ARE YOU CRAZY ??  Yep, slightly, but that is neither here nor there. 

The truth is – impressions are made about you, right or wrong, throughout the interview based on how you talk, how you dress, how nervous you are, if you answer something too detailed/or not detailed enough, look confident, smell, maintain eye contact….  Asking the interviewer to verbalize these impressions gives you an opportunity to correct wrong ones, or expand into areas that you want to clarify.

That's the key - the opportunity to respond.  However, if you are going to be bold enough to ask these types of questions, you had better be ready to respond with a strong answer – even if you don’t agree with or like what they tell you.  This is another time that preparation comes in handy.

Sometimes the feedback they are going to provide is obvious and you can prep – for example you have the wrong degree, not enough education, little or no experience, etc. 

Sometimes it is not so obvious - not coming off as a team player, jumped jobs, a little to chatty... etc.    Either way, be prepared and do NOT, I repeat, do NOT give a wishy-washy answer.  This is your last chance to prove to them that you are the right person for this job.

Another use of the question “do you have any questions for us” is identifying your fit into the organization.  The interview is just as much about them learning about you as it is about you learning about them.   As J.T. O'Donnell recently documented in an article called "7 Lies Employers Use to Trick You Into Working For Them", a shortage in skilled labor is causing some employers to 'stretch' the truth a bit to get you in the door.  There are ways around this, however.  O'Donnell suggests that you use the end of interview questions as a way to ensure they are honest on those promises they are making.  Below are some examples of questions that can help you do this:

1. Can you give me an example of someone who was hired in the last two years to a similar role who has already advanced in their career here? In particular, can you explain what they did to make that happen?
2. Can I meet someone in the company who has doubled their income with the bonus structure? I'd like to learn more about how they accomplished that.
3. I know territories can change as the business changes, what do you put into place to ensure this never happens? Is there a written legal contact of some sort?
4. Can you break down the formal training versus the informal training I will receive? And, may I speak to someone who has been in this role a year to see how they best used the training to their advantage?
5. What is the procedure for requesting to work from home? Can I speak to someone who uses this scheduling flexibility so I can learn what he/she is doing to make sure she is meeting the company's goals when working remotely?
6. Can you share with me a recent example of someone who was hired on to help due to growth. What is the company's process for identifying and funding additional headcount?
7. Can you share with me a recent example of someone who was hired on to fix a problem and has now gone on to a new project? What did they do to ensure they were given the opportunity to move on?

These are great examples of professionally worded questions that can help you identify what they are all about.

Again, don't skimp on any part of that interview - especially those final opportunities to clarify, inquire, and justify your relevancy to the position.  A great way to get the last word in is to use those "do you have any questions" questions to your advantage.

J.T. O'Donnell.  "7 Lies Employers Use To Trick You Into Working For Them".  February 17, 2015. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-lies-employers-use-trick-you-working-them-j-t-o-donnell