This is part of our long-running series on how to answer some of the most popular job interview questions.
Alongside “Tell us about yourself”, “Have you got any questions for us?” is one of the most likely questions to be asked at your job interview, and always at the end of your time with the recruiter. So, there should be no excuse not to prepare for it!
Why interviewers ask “Have you got any questions for us?”
For highly competitive roles in finance and banking, interviewers will be keenly aware of a candidate’s interest, as this question is a great gauge for determining whether their investment in you will pay off. Banking is fast-paced, individuals eager to identify opportunities and take action are ideal hires.
Those hiring for client-facing roles in finance and banking also use this question to assess your sociability. Curiosity and interest in the other person, even if they’re “only” recruiting for the job you want, shows that you will be a friendly and valuable asset to the company who could win new clients.
How to prepare for this question
This question is where your research into their company will come to light. Read the news and mission pages on their website, their investor reports, recent deals, and any other newsworthy information about the company, such as strategy goals and competitor achievements, awards won, their annual report, and their leadership team. Read the profiles of the team you might be working with! You should hopefully have a few questions after this research that will showcase your interest in the company and passion for your chosen role.
What you should never respond
We can’t tell you the number of times we have heard candidates respond, “No, nothing else, really”! You might be nervous and ready to leave, but responding like this leaves a terrible impression and blows the last chance you have to make a positive impact on your recruiter.
Some other obvious no-nos include asking about money or holidays, or anything about the firm that a Google search will answer for you.
How to avoid responding with the same questions other people ask
If you were to write a list, right now, without any research, of questions to ask at the end of an interview, you’re nearly guaranteed to come up with the most common queries we hear as London-based recruiters. Some of the greatest hits include:
- “What are the next steps?”
- “Is there anything else you need to know about me?”
- “What reservations did you have in choosing me as an interviewee?”
- “When can I expect to hear back?”
- “What is the company culture like?
- “Can I work from home?”
While there is nothing necessarily wrong about these questions, they are generic questions that any candidate could ask at any interview, and they won’t help you stand out.
The perfect response to the answer “Have you got any questions for us?”
Emily Aldrich, Managing Director of Aldrich & Co, says, “Candidates don’t always do their research, which is so disappointing. The candidates who stand out ask great questions, are curious, and engage with me. If a candidate has taken the time to learn about my business and ask for advice, perhaps they have found some interesting insight on our website and want to learn more, then they jump out as well prepared. Candidates tend to forget adding details. They should be pointing out the areas that are relevant for the job.”
Targeted, role-centric, and company-centric questions are the best.
What if all my questions have already been answered?
It is possible that throughout the interview, the recruiters may have answered all your prepared questions. If this happens to you, we recommend honesty. Say that a lot of your prep questions were already covered during the course of the interview.
If you’re really stumped, a safe response could be: “What gaps do you see in your team right now that this hire could fill?” While this is more generic than the other questions outlined above, it could lay the groundwork for another, more targeted question about what they need. Emily says, “You could also ask the interviewer what they love about the business, and what changes they have seen in the time they have been there.”
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We hope you’re enjoying our series on the most popular interview questions. What other questions do you find tricky to answer? Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and let us know!
Here are some past questions we have already covered: