What Questions Should You Ask During the Interview?

It depends on where you are in the process. It is important to be sensitive to the needs of the people on the interviewing committees. They are busy people who have volunteered their time to serve. The time allotted for each interview allows them to stay on schedule. I have often felt like a captive as a candidate, who is allotted 15 to 30 minutes for an initial interview, is asked: "Do you have any questions"? This is done as a courtesy. It's not an open invitation to pull out a long list of questions and take over and extend the process. If you move on in the process, you will have ample time to get your questions answered.

The only question you should ask at the initial interview is "what is the next step and what is your timeline"? Often the moderator will have already answered that question. It's okay to say, "I have many questions, however, I'll hold off hoping that I'll have an opportunity to get my answers as the process progresses." This demonstrates your sensitivity to their time constraints.

At future rounds of interviews, it is important to ask questions. The questions you ask should add texture to the portrait you are painting of yourself. Demonstrate that you are a serious professional person by asking: "What kinds of professional development opportunities would be available to me? Would I be assigned a coach?" Show that you are eager to be successful by asking: "What do you expect me to accomplish within 3 months, 6 months, one year?"

The most successful follow-up interviews evolve into conversations, a give and take, and the questions you ask can serve as triggers to those conversations. So, be prepared to respond to the answers. Finally, be sensitive to your interviewers' body language. If there is any sign of restlessness or distractedness, then cut short your questions.

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