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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 an interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?”, how do you usually feel?
Why might “smart questions” matter in a job interview?
What kinds of topics do you want to ask about in a new job?

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

Why you should prepare questions (and how to ask them well) (00:00 – 02:45)

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1. What is the big interview question that “turns the tables”?

“Can you start tomorrow?”
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“What is your biggest weakness?”
“Why should we hire you?”

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

To negotiate salary and to pick a start date
To avoid answering difficult questions and to get a tour
To assess whether you want the job and to show you’re right for it
To impress other candidates and to end the interview quickly

3. Which advice does the speaker give about phrasing your questions?

Ask only generic questions so you sound professional
Read your questions word-for-word from a list
Make them personal and specific to you
Avoid questions about the role

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

Questions about the job, the team, the manager, and the company (02:45 – 05:29)

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1. Which topic is the focus of questions 1–6?

Remote work technology
Health insurance and paid leave
Office traditions and lunch
The job itself (responsibilities, projects, performance)

2. Which question number asks about the most important thing to accomplish in the first 90 days?

Number 2
Number 33
Number 16
Number 11

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

Don’t ask things you can find in a quick Google search
Ask all 38 questions to show you’re prepared
Avoid asking about company values
Only ask about salary to show confidence

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

Culture, remote work, career development, concluding questions, and what NOT to ask (05:29 – 09:24)

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1. Why does the speaker suggest taking culture answers “with a grain of salt”?

Because interviewers are unlikely to say the workplace is unwelcoming or toxic
Because interviewers will likely admit the workplace is toxic
Because culture is not important when choosing a job
Because culture questions are illegal in interviews

2. If the job is going to be fully remote, what does the speaker recommend asking about?

How to avoid meeting coworkers
Whether the company will pay for your vacation
How remote employees are onboarded and integrated into the company culture
Whether you can work fewer hours than everyone else

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

It’s probably not a good idea because it’s too early to negotiate
It’s the best way to show you’re serious
It’s required in every interview
You should always ask before you leave the room

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

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the main purpose of preparing questions before a job interview?

To avoid answering the interviewer’s questions
To prove you already know everything about the company
To gather information and show you are a strong fit
To make the interview last longer

2. Which strategy makes your questions sound stronger in the interview?

Interrupting to ask questions as soon as you think of them
Asking about benefits first
Asking generic questions that fit any job
Making questions personal and building off the conversation

3. What is a good approach when you only have a few minutes left to ask questions?

Choose two or three most important questions
Ask only about paid leave policies
Ask if you have the job
Ask all 38 questions quickly

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 choose for your next interview, and why?
How can you “build off the conversation” if the interview feels very formal or scripted?
What do you think are good indirect ways to learn about company culture?
Do you agree that it’s too early to ask about salary or benefits at the end? Why or why not?