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27 Questions to Ask at the End of a Job Interview

Written by: Lucy Walters
Published on: 1 Apr 2021

Job Interview Questions

Regardless of the role you’re applying for, you should always be prepared to ask questions at the end of a job interview. Not only is this a great way for you to show a genuine interest in the role, but it will also help you to decide if it’s the right fit for you.

As interviewers will likely have a set list of questions to ask each candidate, asking your own questions at the end of the interview will also help you to stand out and make the conversation more memorable. Your questions may lead the conversation in a direction that it otherwise wouldn’t have gone, and so it’s a great opportunity to sell your potential in ways that other candidates might not have. 

Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, here are some examples of questions you could ask at the end of a job interview to help secure your next pharma job...

Questions About The Role

  • What are the opportunities for career progression?
  • Who would I be reporting to?
  • Is this a new role, or has someone left? If so, why did they leave?
  • What are the biggest challenges for someone in this role?
  • Where does this role fit in with the company’s goals?
  • What does a typical day look like in this role?
  • What qualities do you think are the most important in succeeding in the role?
  • What would you expect your new employee to achieve in their first year?
  • What is the team currently working on?
  • How much control would I be given over my workload? Would I have the opportunity to implement new ideas?

Questions About The Company

  • What types of training do you provide?
  • What does the company’s future look like? Do you have any plans for expansion/relocation etc?
  • Could you describe the company culture?
  • What do you think makes this company unique in your industry?
  • How do you measure success?
  • What are the biggest challenges the company is currently facing?

As many companies over the past year have had to adapt to remote working, you could also ask the following if relevant:

  • How has the way you work changed over the past year?
  • How do you communicate with colleagues who work remotely?
  • Have you introduced any new programs/applications for remote working? For example, task management platforms
  • What are your plans for returning to ‘normal’? Will you continue to work remotely or are you planning to return to your office?

Questions About You/Your Application

  • Do you see any gaps between my CV and the job requirements?
  • What are the next steps in the hiring process? Do you have a timeline?
  • Have I answered all your questions? Is there anything you’d like me to elaborate on?

Questions About The Interviewer

  • How long have you worked here? Why did you choose this company?
  • What do you enjoy the most about working here?
  • What’s one of your favourite projects that you’ve worked on?
  • Where did you start in the company? 

Be Prepared…

Always prepare your questions before the interview so you’re confident in what you’re going to say, and the direction you’ll be taking the conversation in. Try to plan at least 10 questions to cover yourself if the interviewer answers a couple themselves, and don’t ask any more than 3 or 4 questions. 

Sometimes it may also be appropriate to ask a question that you already know the answer to from doing your research. You can do this if it’s relevant to a point the interviewer has made to continue the conversation and to show that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in learning more. 

If you aren’t sure how many questions to ask in your interview, read the interviewer’s body language. If they seem relaxed and genuinely eager to continue the conversation, then it’s probably safe to carry on. If they start to pack their things away or start checking the time on their watch, then it’s time to start wrapping up!

Visit PharmiWeb.Jobs for more interview advice or to start searching for your next pharma job.