Questions for Interviewers: Magic Number? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have a callback coming up with a firm. Is there a typical number of questions one should have prepared for each interviewer? Is five a safe number or is that too low?

What are some good questions to ask?

[shock259]

I'd probably have a few more than five. Sometimes interviewers will directly answer your question before you ask it (or at least come close enough that you will look like you weren't listening if you ask it). You don't need to have them memorized though. Just think about a few before you go. When the question time comes, ask one that is on the top of your head. Listen to the response, but be sure you have another question ready to go for whenever the interviewer finishes answering the first question. Rinse, repeat until the interview says the interview is over. Rinse, repeat for all interviewers.

[Anonymous User]

I'd probably have a few more than five. Sometimes interviewers will directly answer your question before you ask it (or at least come close enough that you will look like you weren't listening if you ask it). You don't need to have them memorized though. Just think about a few before you go. When the question time comes, ask one that is on the top of your head. Listen to the response, but be sure you have another question ready to go for whenever the interviewer finishes answering the first question. Rinse, repeat until the interview says the interview is over. Rinse, repeat for all interviewers.

I agree with all of this.

On my last callback one interviewer wanted me to completely lead the interview with questions. Think of some basic areas you are prepared to ask questions on, and then listen very carefully so you can ask more in depth questions based off the interviewer's responses. This man ended up keeping me for 45 minutes or so rather than the allotted 20 or 30 minutes. Try not to be too nailed down to certain questions, so you can be flexible if a situation like this arises. Make sure you are familiar enough with the firm/interviewer (if you know who they are in advance) that you can ask tailored questions, in the event you have 45 minutes to do so.

[rad lulz]

Lol

If you're not a social idiot, ask an open-ended question like "what made you want to work at firm/agency/office XYZ" and then have a conversation like a normal human. Asking 5 random Qs one right after another is ridiculous.

[Anonymous User]

OP.

Thanks for the advice everyone (except RadLulz, who I guess gets off on putting people down on internet message boards).

[20160810]

Lol

If you're not a social idiot, ask an open-ended question like "what made you want to work at firm/agency/office XYZ" and then have a conversation like a normal human. Asking 5 random Qs one right after another is ridiculous.

This, in its entirety.

ALTHOUGH, it never hurts to have questions in mind, because often the fodder for general open-ended ones like that just gets covered by the interviewer before you get to the "Do you have any questions?" point