If you’ve spent any time on our blog at all, you know you need to ask questions during your interviews. However, it can be challenging to determine which questions to ask at which stage. Modern interviews feature anywhere from one to eight different interviews for one job. And the questions you ask during the initial phone screen should be different from the questions you ask at a final interview. Today, we’re breaking down the differences and laying out interview questions for every stage of the process.
Initial Phone Screen Interview Questions
The initial phone screen might not even be with the actual hiring manager, so it’s not the time to get into the nitty-gritty details. However, it is an excellent opportunity to get any further clarification on the position, company, or work environment. Here are a few examples of great interview questions to ask during your initial phone screen.
- Can you provide some more information about this aspect of the job?
- Is this position in office, remote, or hybrid?
- Would you like a list of references?
- What is the next step in the interview process?
- When can I expect to hear about the next step?
- Is there anything else I can share about my experience or qualifications?
Face-to-Face Interview Questions
When you have a face-to-face interview, things are getting a bit more serious. You’re most likely meeting with the hiring manager or maybe even additional team members at this stage. Whether it’s in-person or over video chat, it’s the perfect opportunity to delve deeper into the job’s duties and the team’s culture. Here are a couple of great questions to ask during a face-to-face interview.
- How can I make an immediate impact in this position?
- Who will I be working with most closely?
- Are there opportunities for professional development?
- What is the company or team’s management style?
- What is most challenging about this job?
- What is your favorite part about working here?
Final Interview Questions
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You are in strong consideration for the role, so this is the perfect time to really wow the interviewer with some great questions. At this point, you can really get into the details of what it would look like for you to be in this role and how you personally would fit in with the team. Here are a few bold questions you can ask during a final interview to leave a lasting impression.
- What are the performance metrics for this role?
- How will expectations and feedback be communicated for this position?
- How do I compare to other candidates interviewing for this job?
- What would you say are the most important skills for a successful person in this position to have?
- How does this position contribute to the larger goals of the organization?
- How would you describe your department’s culture?
- If I were to be hired for this position, when would you like me to start?
These are just a handful of questions you can ask at each stage of the interview process. Keep in mind that it’s best to also incorporate questions that arise during your interviews, and don’t be afraid to circle back to something you need more information on. And if you’re interested in more interview advice, check out our interview prep and advice resources to increase your interview knowledge and boost your confidence.
