running out of questions on interview?? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Help! After every interview, this happens-

They ask whether I have any questions. I ask a couple questions. And then they say, do you have any other questions? And I say I don't.

Is this normal? I mean, I do have questions prepared, but how many can I ask?! I have to stop asking at some point right? And whenever I stop I always get hit with the "is that it?" comment. Am I supposed to keep asking after they say that? Or what is the right way to end the question session? What do you say when they are like "is that it"??

[Anonymous User]

Can’t understand how this happens to people. Just listen to their answers and then follow up with more pointed questions. So, if they’re talking about the free market system and its benefits, maybe follow up and ask whether it can result in uneven distribution. Show that you’re actually listening to what they have to say instead of something like this:
Q- How does the formal assignment system work in practice at your firm?
A-Blah Blah Blah.
Q- Ok, now what are the qualities that you’re looking for in an associate?
Partners reaction: he/she probably didn’t listen to a damn word I just said.

[Anonymous User]

As someone who sits on hiring panels, I think it’s total fine to say “no more questions.” A lot of times I’m going to be polite and let you ask as many as you want and expect you to tell me that you’re done, especially if you’re a candidate I like.

[Anonymous User]

As someone who sits on hiring panels, I think it’s total fine to say “no more questions.” A lot of times I’m going to be polite and let you ask as many as you want and expect you to tell me that you’re done, especially if you’re a candidate I like.

Agreed. Eventually the interview has to end. You can always couch it as “I think that’s all I have for now, I don’t want to take up too much of your time,” which seems a little less blunt than “no, I’m done.” If they really do want to talk more they can say “we have plenty of time,” or if not they can move things along.

That said, if every interviewer actually is saying “is that it” (which I’m not really convinced is happening in every interview) then maybe think more about your follow-up to answers like the first anon suggests. Because the response from every interviewer shouldn’t be “is that it?” (I’m just not sure if that’s literally the case or if one or two said “you sure? We have time” or the like. An isolated “is that it?” is just interviewer weirdness. If they’re literally all saying it there might be an issue.)

[Anonymous User]

Related question for those replying...

If the interviewer notes time is running short (and/or has already elapsed when they check - also is this a bad sign?), is it best to ask another final question (a good one rather than just I need to ask a question so here's a question) or just thank them for their time?

[Anonymous User]

As someone who sits on hiring panels, I think it’s total fine to say “no more questions.” A lot of times I’m going to be polite and let you ask as many as you want and expect you to tell me that you’re done, especially if you’re a candidate I like.

Agreed. Eventually the interview has to end. You can always couch it as “I think that’s all I have for now, I don’t want to take up too much of your time,” which seems a little less blunt than “no, I’m done.” If they really do want to talk more they can say “we have plenty of time,” or if not they can move things along.

That said, if every interviewer actually is saying “is that it” (which I’m not really convinced is happening in every interview) then maybe think more about your follow-up to answers like the first anon suggests. Because the response from every interviewer shouldn’t be “is that it?” (I’m just not sure if that’s literally the case or if one or two said “you sure? We have time” or the like. An isolated “is that it?” is just interviewer weirdness. If they’re literally all saying it there might be an issue.)

OP here. The interviewers dont say "is that it" lol. They usually say something like "Do you have any more questions about the position" or just "Do you have any other questions"

[nixy]

Yeah, then you’re fine, they’re just being polite. It’s not a commentary on you not having enough questions and don’t get paranoid about it. If this is the second half of the interview and there’s time left and you have more questions, ask them - there’s no rule that you ask like 2 questions and stop. If you have questions and there’s time, ask them. But don’t ask if you don’t have actual questions.

To other poster, I think if time has run out you gracefully say you don’t have any more questions and get out. Follow the interviewer though - if they say “our time is nearly up so do you have any more questions” you can ask, but if it’s the kind of question that requires like a 10-minute soliloquy, maybe don’t. But if they seem to be like “I know we’re done at 11 but we have a little more time and I want to make sure I’ve answered all your questions” maybe do ask. Basically though there isn’t any point in trying to score more points for a “good” question at the very end if time is up, and if it’s a question you really want the answer to for making a decision, you can ask at a callback or after you get an offer.

[Anonymous User]

Related question for those replying...

If the interviewer notes time is running short (and/or has already elapsed when they check - also is this a bad sign?), is it best to ask another final question (a good one rather than just I need to ask a question so here's a question) or just thank them for their time?

Really it can go both ways: (1) it could be a good sign because they’ve already decided you’re going to be brought in for a cb; or (2) they’ve already decided you aren’t going to get a cb. I’ve said this to candidates while interviewing for both of these reasons and I’ve also been on the receiving end of these comments for what I presume was for both of these reasons.

[Anonymous User]

Nixy and anon, thanks so much!

Other anon: any difference in how to handle if this happens during CBs? I wasn’t sure whether your advice was more geared to screeners. I’ve had some CBs when the interviewers want to keep me from getting ‘too off schedule’ when the interview has run a few minutes over.