Imagine you just completely blew the beginning of a job interview in English. All of a sudden, your brain stopped working and English seems impossible: you struggle to remember even one word, you won’t stop stuttering, you ask your interviewer to repeat themselves several times… In short, it’s not looking good at all, and your dream job starts to fall apart right in front of your eyes.

But not so fast! There is still a way to redeem yourself. At the end of almost every job interview, your interviewer will ask the magic question: “Do you have any questions for me?” And that’s when you jump at the chance to answer it.

Why this question? Imagine for a moment that you’re the interviewer, and you’re interviewing two candidates. The first one asks you, “I had questions about the corporate culture. How do you describe the management style here? What do you like and dislike about this style?” The other candidate tells you, “No, I think you’ve said it all. I’m sure I’ll have more questions if I get the job.” Do you see the difference between these two answers? The second candidate gives a very passive answer that shows neither interest nor imagination. And after getting the job, it might be too late to ask questions. That’s why it’s so important to ask questions about the company and the challenges that come with the position beforehand. In some cases, the interview is very attentive to end-of-interview questions. Also, as this is the last question of the interview, and since you’ve made it all the way to the end, you have every chance of leaving a good impression that will make up for the beginning. And being able to ask questions is a big advantage for you! If you prepare them in advance, you will demonstrate a high level of English and it will be your interviewer who will have to do most of the English work!

So, here are some questions you can learn by heart to blow away your interviewer:

• about the company
  • Can you talk about the company culture?
  • How would you describe the management style of the organization?
  • How does this company define and measure success?
  • What exactly does this company value the most, and how do you think my work for you will further these values?
• about the job
  • Can you share more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role? How would you describe the pace of a typical day?
  • What kinds of processes are in place to help me work collaboratively?
  • In what area could your team use a little polishing?
• for the interviewer
  • How long have you been with the company?
  • You’ve been here [this long] at the company; can you tell me about what attracted you to the company and what has made you stay this long?
  • What do you enjoy most about working here?
  • What makes you good at your job?
• bonus
  • When can I expect to hear back?
  • Whom should I reach out to if I have any further questions?
  • What are your concerns about my candidacy? Are there any qualifications that you think I’m missing?
  • Is working remotely an option for this position?

It’s nice to know all of this, but what should you do next? Well, I’ll be giving language coaching sessions starting April 23 to nail your job interviews in English! Register now to not miss out on any more tips! Find out more here.