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38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: The Harvard Business Review Guide

Harvard Business Review

255K views 3 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear the title, what do you think makes a question “smart” in a job interview?
Why do interviewers usually ask: “Do you have any questions for me?”
What kinds of topics would you personally want to ask about in an interview (job, team, company, or culture)?

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38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: The Harvard Business Review Guide

Why your questions matter + how to ask them well (00:00 – 02:45)

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1. What is the interviewer doing when they “open up the floor” to you?

They are asking you to leave the room.
They are starting a group interview.
They are inviting you to ask your own questions.
They are offering you the job immediately.

2. What are the two main goals of asking smart questions in this part of the interview?

To assess whether you want the job and to demonstrate you’re right for it
To prove the company is wrong and to challenge the interviewer
To avoid answering difficult questions and to talk about benefits
To negotiate salary and to shorten the interview

3. Which approach is recommended instead of asking generic questions?

Ask as many questions as possible to look prepared
Make questions personal and specific to you in the role
Avoid questions and end quickly
Ask only about company history and founders

38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: The Harvard Business Review Guide

Questions about the job, team, manager, and company (02:45 – 06:21)

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1. What is one topic the “questions about the job itself” are meant to help you understand?

How to request paid leave
Which snacks are in the office kitchen
Whether the role is one you really want
How to avoid performance reviews

2. Which question is specifically about how your work might be judged?

“What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?”
“What do you and the team usually do for lunch?”
“What gets you most excited about the company’s future?”
“How long have you been at the company?”

3. What warning does the speaker give about questions related to the company?

Don’t ask things you can find in a quick Google search.
Don’t ask about team challenges.
Don’t ask anything about company values.
Don’t ask about your future manager.

38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: The Harvard Business Review Guide

Culture cautions, remote work, career growth, and how to conclude (06:21 – 09:24)

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1. Why should you take answers about company culture “with a grain of salt”?

Because interviewers are likely to admit the workplace is toxic
Because interviewers are unlikely to describe the workplace as unwelcoming or toxic
Because culture questions are illegal to ask
Because interviewers usually refuse to answer culture questions

2. If the role is fully remote, what should you ask about specifically?

Which lunch restaurants are nearby
How to get a reserved parking spot
How remote employees are onboarded and integrated into the company culture
How often you can travel for free

3. What does the speaker say about asking about salary or start date at the end of the interview?

It’s probably too early because you’re not yet in a position to negotiate
It’s required to ask before the interview ends
You should always ask to get a fast answer
It’s the best way to show confidence

38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: The Harvard Business Review Guide

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1. Which strategy best matches the speaker’s advice for choosing your interview questions?

Ask mainly about perks and benefits to compare offers
Ask all 38 questions so you don’t miss anything
Only ask questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no”
Choose a few questions that are relevant to you and the specific job

2. Why does the speaker recommend wording like “a typical day for me in this role”?

It is more formal grammar
It helps you avoid talking about responsibilities
It prevents the interviewer from asking follow-up questions
It makes the interviewer picture you in the role

3. What is the main purpose of asking questions about goals, metrics, and reviews?

To show you disagree with how the company works
To request extra vacation time
To delay the hiring process
To understand expectations and how performance will be assessed

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

38 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: The Harvard Business Review Guide

Which 2–3 questions from the video would you most want to ask for your next interview, and why?
The speaker says not to ask things you can find in a quick search. Where is the line between “research” and a useful interview question?
What are some indirect ways to learn about company culture without asking “Is the culture good?”
Do you agree that it’s too early to ask about salary at the end of a first interview? Why or why not?