The first job I ever interviewed for was for Seattle’s Best Coffee.  It was a morning interview and I forgot to set my alarm.  By the time I arrived at the store I was dressed in jeans and a baggy sweatshirt with no makeup, no résumé, and no chance of getting that job.  The hiring manager was nice, however, and went through the motions of interviewing me.  When we got to the end of the interview she asked me if I had questions for her.

I froze.  I was pretty sure there were questions I was supposed to ask but I absolutely could not think of any.  I ended up asking her if employees were entitled to free coffee (she said yes) and then I thanked her for her time and left.

Needless to say, I did not get that job.  Even then it was no surprise to me as to why.  There were a lot of things working against me that day but the one mistake I remember thinking was the most preventable was my lack of meaningful questions. 

Hoping to prevent a similar kind of embarrassment for you when it comes time to ask your own questions during an interview, here are my top five questions to ask and why:

1. How did this position become available?  This is your chance to find out a little about the people you will be working with as well as your manager.  Evaluate the hiring managers’ reaction to this question, it will usually reveal a bit about how the previous person in that role left the company.
2. How long has the company been trying to fill this position?  If the position has been open for months it may be prudent to consider why no one else has wanted it.  Also be wary of high turnover, it can usually indicate problems with either the position or the company.
3. What is the salary range for this position?  If this question has not already been addressed during the interview it’s a good idea to evaluate whether the company can afford to pay you what you’re hoping to earn.  Don’t bring up the topic if you’re uncomfortable doing so, it’s strictly a matter of preference.  I personally prefer to set expectations early in order to avoid frustration later.
4. What is the person in this role expected to accomplish?  Watch carefully here for clearly defined roles and expectations.  If the answer is vague or muddled ask yourself if you’re comfortable with that style of management.
5. What is the work environment here like?  Pay close attention to the adjectives the interviewer uses.  Make sure that the work environment they describe is the kind of place you know you’ll work well in.  If you despise stress, avoid places that are described as “intense”.  If you enjoy dressing up professionally for work, avoid places that are described as “laid-back”.

An interview is fundamentally a time to make sure that you’re a good fit for the role and the company.  When it’s your turn to ask questions, pay attention and make sure that you’re comfortable with the responses.  If the hiring manager is comfortable with your responses and you’re comfortable with his or her responses chances are favorable that you have a good match.

Have I missed any good questions?  Which questions do you ask in an interview?  Do you have any stories about questions you asked an interviewer that ended in calamity/hilarity/chaos?  Please share!