How to Prepare Questions to Ask at an Employment Interview

To make the most of your interview, you must ask questions. If the employer is the only one asking the questions, you may appear uninterested in the job. Follow these steps to prepare a list of questions before any employment interview.

Things You'll Need

• Pen and paper

Instructions

Do Your Research

1. Take 2 to 3 hours to find out as much as you can about a potential employer. Typically, companies have Web sites that provide an abundance of information. Look for the "About Us" and "Human Resources" sections. If your potential employer is a publicly-held company, research its financial information.

2. Use your research to develop questions you want to ask. Jot down notes as you prepare. For example, if you see the company has made a new purchase or acquisition, ask what role the new addition will play. If you see a mission statement posted, ask how that statement is fulfilled by the various departments of the company.

3. Look at the Web sites of competing companies. This will give you an idea of where your potential employer fits into the market and what you will be up against as an employee.

4. Search online to see if any recent articles have been written about the company. If you find news of planned mergers, contracts or other events, work them into your questions. Your knowledge and interest will impress.

5. Take time to find out something about each job in the company, top to bottom, and frame some questions to demonstrate this expertise. For instance, "I noticed you just doubled the size of your shipping department. Have orders increased at that rate as well?"

Make a List of Questions

1. Write a list of questions about the position itself. Include questions about salary, responsibilities and opportunities for growth. Chances are, you will hear answers to many of these during the course of the interview without having to ask them, but it is handy to have them just in case. Let the interviewer volunteer information about perks and time-off. One question you should never ask is how the retirement plan works. As one CEO has said, "When someone interviewing for a job with me is already thinking about life after the job is over, I tell him not to worry about our retirement plan. He'll never be part of it."

2. Order your list beginning with the most important questions. That way, if you don't have time to ask them all, you can still get answers to the critical ones.

3. Add questions about the company itself, including its direction, strategy or recent press coverage. Use the questions you brainstormed during the research process.

4. Type your list on clean white paper, using a basic font (Arial or Times New Roman) and black ink. A list formatted with crazy colors or graphics may make you appear unprofessional. Keep this list in your briefcase or portfolio, and don't be afraid to reference or make notes on it during the interview. This is not a quiz. You can refer to it in front of the interviewer. A solid list shows you came prepared.

Ask Your Questions

1. Wait for the interviewer to invite your questions. If he or she doesn't, and you feel the interview is ending, politely ask to discuss your issues briefly.

2. Jot down the answers to your questions on your list. Don't trust yourself to remember them later. Refer to these answers as you continue the interview process with this employer. See if the answers develop other questions.

Tips & Warnings

• Many online job search sites offer mock interview questions for both the employer and potential employee, so use these resources when you prepare for an employment interview.

• Under U.S. federal law, companies cannot ask you about your race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or age, so avoid delving into these personal areas in your line of questioning.