Hundreds of Great Questions to Ask in an Interview

Interviewing might seem like a one-way street where you're forced to constantly talk about yourself and your experience. Asking interview questions is a great way for you to evaluate whether or not you'd be a good fit or if the position is right for you. Ask these questions in an interview to highlight why you’re interested in a healthcare job and go in prepared!

Although saying less during the interview leaves less room for error, it's vital that you fire off a few questions the interviewer's way. Why? Because it shows that you're genuinely interested in the company and the position, and can imagine yourself working there. This, in turn, makes the interviewer imagine you working in the position as well, subtlety pushing them to advance you to the next stage of the hiring process.

Don’t be one of those candidates who refuses to ask questions and hopes that their interest in the company and position has come across effectively — because you’re costing yourself the job.

Asking questions in an interview is quite tricky. Some questions you might ask can be seen as framed to make it seem as if you’re only seeking another way to highlight your own strengths, experience, and skills instead of being truly interested in the company and position. Don't come off as self-centered and only out for yourself, even though you may very well be. People are generally not a fan of vanity. We have outlined several broad questions that you should ask in an interview, in addition to several specific-scenario questions that you should ask if you’re looking for certain answers. The questions below will help provide some clarity to you in regards to the role you’re interviewing for, the healthcare facility or hospital you’re hoping to be employed in, and the future steps that will be taken in the candidate selection process.

Why Asking Questions In An Interview Is Important

There are a few distinct reasons as to why you want to ask questions in an interview. The important thing to remember is that questions are designed to provide some insight or to gain some understanding where things might be a little confusing. Unfortunately, when we apply to jobs, we only get a small description of what the job might entail or what working for the employer might be like.

As an example, an average job posting might be between 200 to 600 words. 200 to 600 words isn’t enough to break down an entire year’s worth of responsibilities or activities that you might do in that role. Asking questions in an interview is a great way to gain some more insight as to what the role might entail or what you can expect throughout the year. You might have applied for the role thinking it was going to be one thing, only to realize that your role is expected to change in six months and you have to be ready to tackle that change.

Another reason that you want to ask questions is to gain a better understanding of the company, hospital, or healthcare facility that you’re applying to. One of the best things that you can do when you’re applying for a new position or a new job is to conduct a little bit of research on the background of the company and their history. When you do this, you can get a bit more understanding as to what the healthcare facility or hospital’s core mission is, what they stand for, some of their community initiatives, and more. Even when you conduct your research, you can only learn so much about the company that you’re applying for. Instead, you should ask additional questions to showcase your interest in the company. Asking questions is a great way to showcase your interest in the hospital or healthcare facility, and learn more about the company that you’re applying to.

You also want to ask questions in an interview is to gain more information about the next steps in the candidate selection process. Every single hospital or healthcare facility has a different candidate evaluation and selection process. Some move rapidly, while others move a tad bit slower. Instead of constantly feeling like you’re in the dark, asking questions is a great way for you to understand what the future might entail, where you’ll stand in the entire candidate selection process, and when you should expect to hear back regarding whether or not you’re moving forward or have been eliminated.

Asking questions is a great way for you to find clarity about where you stand in the process. Whether you want to plan around multiple interviews, get to know the team you'll be working as a part of, or just want to know how things move forward, all of this info will serve you well in your overall job search.

How Asking Interview Questions Benefits You

Now that you understand the different reasons for asking interview questions, you might be asking how they could potentially benefit you in the candidate evaluation and selection process. When you ask interview questions, you have another opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the company.

As we’ve mentioned earlier, when you conduct your research before your interview - you’re taking the time to gain a little bit more understanding of what the company, hospital, or healthcare facility believes in and what they stand for. Asking questions in an interview is a great way to separate yourself from those candidates who didn’t conduct that additional research or time investment. When you showcase that you’ve spent more time researching the company to gain more information, you’re also demonstrating your ability to work hard and go the extra mile.

Instead of being just another candidate who tries to do the bare minimum, you can demonstrate your work ethic with this small effort to research the company and then ask additional questions.

Another beneficial reason you should ask questions during your interview is to highlight your skills and experience once again. Over the course of an interview, there will be plenty of opportunities to highlight your skills, experience, and education, but it doesn’t have to stop there. We’ve all been in the scenario where we’ve been confident about some of the answers that we provided in an interview during the live session, only to think once we’ve left that we could’ve answered something a little bit better or provided a little bit of a lengthier or more well-rounded answer.

When you ask questions that seek more clarity on certain job responsibilities, you can then elaborate upon how well you’d perform in that role once the interviewer elaborates and provides a little bit more information on the job responsibility. When you elaborate, you can speak to your strengths instead of just saying things like, “Yes, I have done that in the past,” or “I have previous experience doing that.”

You can avoid those scenarios completely by asking questions that will help give you another opportunity to speak to your skills or elaborate on how your experience would make you a great fit for the position.

Instead, you can bring in examples when you elaborate upon the previous experience you have when you ask for additional clarity or information as it relates to the role.

Another important reason you want to ask questions during the interview is to seek understanding about how your role might change over time. The last thing you want to do is feel overwhelmed or be forced to scramble when your role changes and requires a bunch of different skills or experience that you don’t have in order to be successful. When you ask questions as it relates to the role and how your duties might change over time, you can get a better understanding of what you can expect for the foreseeable future.

If the interviewer does highlight that some change might be expected, it’s no red flag to become super alarmed about the position. Naturally, companies and roles will change dynamically over time, but it’s still a personal preference as to how much change you’re willing to work with in your potential new role.

Another critical and important beneficial reason you should be asking questions in an interview is to evaluate the potential future opportunities that might arise from this new position or role. In other words, you’re trying to evaluate whether or not this is a potential fit where you could move upwards in the leadership structure, achieve career growth, and more.

If you’re passionate about pursuing a job opportunity where you will have the ability to grow and evolve in your new role, then you want to be sure that this new opportunity will give you the chance to do that. Asking this question and being comfortable with the answer that the interviewer provides you with will be based on whether or not you’re seeking a job opportunity where you can advance and grow upwards.

Another reason you want to ask questions throughout the interview is to help you identify whether or not the company, hospital, or healthcare facility is right for you. We’ve all been in a scenario where it didn’t seem like a good fit, and the last thing you want to do is start a new job opportunity and realize that the culture fit or atmosphere isn’t what you were looking for. When you ask questions about the culture and fit, you can determine whether or not you are going to enjoy your time working there.

Another beneficial reason that you want to ask questions during the interview is to evaluate whether or not the goals and standards associated with your potential future position are realistic enough for you to accomplish them. Are they going to be holding you to an unrealistic standard that you can’t hope to achieve? The future company might be setting you up for failure, which will cause you heartache and disappointment when you fail to meet those achievements. You can avoid this heartache and worry by taking the time to ask questions during your interview.

As one can see, there are plenty of fantastic reasons and benefits to asking questions during the interview. Take the time to review some of the fantastic interview questions we’ve outlined below, and set yourself up for success.

10 Broad Questions to Ask in an Interview:

We’ve outlined ten of the best broad questions that you should ask in an interview if you’re struggling to remember some of the other more-specific scenario questions we’ve highlighted later on in the article. These broad questions are a great way for you to evaluate what the future might look like in terms of your responsibility, company culture fit, challenges that you might face in the role, and more.

1. What Would the Specific Expectations of Me Be If I'm Hired for the Position?

The last thing you want to do is get involved with a new employer and have no idea what you're doing. If you move forward with a position and don't know how to perform the responsibilities involved, you'll likely be searching for a new job, again, in the near future.

Be sure, if you're not already, of the duties by asking the interviewer to recite the general responsibilities of the position, and if anything was left out of the job description that you saw.

2. Can You Explain the Training Process?

Show you're interested in the company by asking about the training program they provide, how long it is, how intensive, etc. Try to get a picture of what the next few weeks will be like if you're chosen for the position.

This is valuable to you since it allows you to plan accordingly and prepare, but also to the employer as it shows that you're serious about the position and looking forward to starting. This may put you ahead of other candidates who fail to ask any questions about the position.

3. Does this Position Involve Working With a Team or Independently?

Some positions are intrinsically team-based, but some can go either way. Depending on the job you're applying for, ask about whether you'll be working with a team or not. If so, follow up with asking about how many people you'll be with, what they work on together, what are their processes for accomplishing goals, and anything else you can think of that's relevant.

For many job seekers, this can be a deal-breaker. Many are looking for a team-oriented position while others just want to do their work and go home for the day. If this is you, be sure you ask before getting in too deep and realizing you've made a mistake, wasting valuable time.

4. Are There Any Hidden "Keys to Success" for this Particular Position?

This may be different from employer to employer or even job to job, but either way, many companies have unspoken, unwritten codes of conduct that can help you out in the long run. Even getting a few small details about the workplace, the management, or the employees can go a long way when it comes time for you to start your training.

Try to figure out how the place runs, who you need to go to for what things, and anything else that can make the transition smoother.

5. Are There Any Major Challenges That the Company is Currently Facing?

It could be the result of a lawsuit, an under-staffed workforce, or economic hardship, either way, you should try to get any information that you couldn't find in your research about the company by asking your first point of contact: the interviewer.

Simply asking this question shows that you're interested in the well-being of the company and also provides you with valuable info that could directly pertain to your future. For example, if they're short-staffed, landing a position that you want should be more likely, allowing you to plan accordingly.

6. What Can I Do to Make the Onboarding Process Smoother?

This is more of a technical question than anything else, and helps you to stay prepared and make a good impression during your first weeks of employment. Ask about what paperwork they're going to need, what they provide to their employees vs. what you need to buy yourself, what the training schedule may look like, etc.

This question, again, serves to make your life easier and allow you to come off looking as good as possible to your new peers.

7. Can You Walk Me Through a Typical Day in the Life?

Even if you're a 20+ year professional in the position you're applying for, this question still provides valuable information about the workplace and your peers that you otherwise wouldn't have. While the job may be the same that you've done time and time again, the environment, the people, and the processes will likely be somewhat different.

Express your interest in joining the team by getting a clearer picture of what your typical workday will look like if you are chosen.

8. What Growth Opportunities Are Available?

If you're a career-minded individual, you're likely to be searching for a place that you can grow with and that will offer more opportunities in the future for advancement. Recruiters know this and will gladly brag about the various options their employees have to advance within their organization, so don't be afraid to ask about the career paths available to you, if you're hired.

This also shows that you're looking for something more long-term, rather than one who's just looking for the first job they can get, making it one of the best questions to ask in an interview.

9. How is Success Measured at this Company?

Most companies perform some sort of performance review for their employees to let them know what they've been doing great at and where they can improve. If you're serious about this employer and looking to build a career with them, ask about their reviews and what criteria they look for in exemplary employees.

This questions shows you care about the performing successfully in the position and that you can handle constructive criticism. If you're ultimately offered the job, don't be afraid to ask senior coworkers for tips on what you should and should not be doing.

10. Can You Explain the Company's Hiring Process?

You're doing yourself a big favor by asking this question in particular. If you know what to expect in the coming week or two, you can more easily plan for the best approach in your job search and where you stand against the other candidates. Make sure you stay flexible with their requests for further interviews or whatever other means of weeding candidates out.

Topic or Scenario Interview Questions

There are plenty of fantastic scenario questions that you should ask if you’re looking to gain a little bit more insight into certain topics or scenarios that might occur as part of your employment in the job that you’re applying for. Not only do these questions give you an opportunity to learn more about individual aspects of each job, but you can also showcase once again how passionate you are about the role and how serious your consideration for the position is. These are all things that recruiters, hiring managers, and employers love to see — so take the time to review some of these topic interview questions or scenario interview questions and ask a few!

Training Questions to Ask in an Interview

One of the most important things you can do is ask about the training and employee development that you might be forced to undergo as a part of getting hired to work with the company, hospital, or healthcare facility. Even if you have plenty of professional experience working in the industry or working in the role you’ve been hired for, there are still going to be a number of different things that you need to learn with each new organization you join.

These new things include different training procedures, different standards and procedures to follow, recommended guidelines, and more. By asking the following questions, you’ll be able to identify what the training and employee development track might look for new hires.

• What does the training look like for new employees?
• What does the training entail for new employees?
• Would I be asked to attend different conferences as an employee?
• Do I have to represent the company when attending different training conferences as an employee?
• How has the training for this job evolved over time?
• Is the training for this position hands-on or remote-based?

Interviewer Questions to Ask in an Interview

These questions are designed to give a little insight into the interviewer. These questions are great for showcasing that you’re interested in learning more about them and the individuals that you might be working with. In addition, these questions help provide a little insight into why the interviewer decided to work with the company instead of some of the other ones that they were considering.

For instance, if the interviewer highlights how they really love the culture and how it’s allowed them to thrive, then you might learn a bit more about how the culture you’ve heard about isn’t just empty speech, employees truly do enjoy it.

• What initially interested you in starting your career with this company?
• What did you do before starting in your current role with this company?
• What made you want to select this company over other company choices?
• If you had to pick one thing that you really enjoy working with this company, what would it be?
• Do you see yourself working at this company for the next few years?
• Has your role changed over time with this company?
• How long have you been with this company?

Performance and Assessment Questions to Ask in an Interview

These questions are great to ask in an interview to make sure that you have a clear understanding of what expectations will be placed on you when you assume the role and what you should expect in terms of performance reviews and assessments. These questions provide a great way for you to evaluate whether or not you’re going to be under constant pressure to outperform unrealistic expectations, and what you should expect from your future managers.

• What is the performance review process like?
• How often will I be formally reviewed?
• What goals or metrics will my performance be measured or evaluated against?
• What are the most important things you would like to evaluate after the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day marks on the job?
• What are the main expectations in the first year?

Company Questions to Ask in an Interview

These questions help provide a little bit more insight into what the management structure is like, and what the company takes pride in if it wasn’t already expressed earlier in the interview.

• I was doing my research on the company, can you tell me more about … ?
• Where do you see this company in the next several years?
• What are some of the company-wide goals or company-wide initiatives currently?
• How do employees help support those company-wide initiatives?
• What is something that excites you about working here?
• What is something that excites you about working here in the future?

Team Related Questions to Ask in an Interview

These questions are designed to help provide a little bit more insight into what kind of interactions you will have with others in your new role. Because the healthcare industry is a largely collaborative environment, you will be working with others on a daily basis. It’s important to know what kind of teamwork initiatives are put in place, understand who you will be working with, and understand how teams are measured based on their performance. Asking these questions is a great way for you to evaluate whether or not you’re going to be content working with the other members of the team that you’ll eventually be placed on.

• What is the company team structure like?
• If there are teams, how many members are typically assigned to each team?
• What are some of the most important problems that a team has to solve on a daily basis?
• What are the team dynamics like?
• How much collaboration ideas or feedback is taken from team members?
• Who will I be reporting to?
• Who will I typically work with the closest?
• Can you tell me a little bit more about the team I will be directly working with?
• What other teams work most closely with the team I will be on?
• What departments will I most likely be interacting with as a part of this job?
• What are some of the biggest challenges that each team faces?
• Do you expect to hire more people on this team in the upcoming year?
• Do team members eat lunch together?
• Do team members hang out with one another outside of work?
• How competitive are team members?
• How do you develop teamwork and collaboration amongst team members?

Culture Questions to Ask in an Interview

It’s important to remember that interviews are a two way street. You’re not just answering questions that they pose to you. Instead, you should also take the time to ask some questions to gain additional insight into things that matter to you. One of the most important things you should understand before accepting any new role is what kind of culture you’ll be working in. Understanding what the culture is like will help you determine whether or not the role is truly going to be a fit, even if you match all the criteria.

Even if the job has everything you want in terms of a position, the culture is what matters most. If you go to work hating every single day because of the work environment, then it doesn’t matter how perfect the job role is — you’ll still despise it. Take the time to ask critical questions about the company culture to determine what the work atmosphere or work environment might entail and help you get a glimpse into what each day will be like.

• What is the company culture like?
• What is the work environment like?
• Is collarboration encouraged in this company?
• Does the company sponsor any team-building activities or fun events?
• What is one of your favorite traditions here?
• What do employees typically do for lunch?
• Do you participate in some of the joint activities that the company puts on with different organizations?
• Are there any company retreats?
• Do employees typically hang out with each other outside of work?
• How has the culture changed since you’ve been here?
• Do you like the company culture?
• What is different about working here than some of the other places you’ve been in your career?
• What is your favorite thing about the culture here?

Hiring Process or Candidate Evaluation Questions to Ask in an Interview

These questions are used to help you gain a better understanding of what kind of steps will follow after the interview in terms of the candidate evaluation process or the hiring process. Whenever you leave an interview, we often forget most of what was said in the interview because we were so nervous and didn’t write it all down. These questions will help you put a bit of that worry in your mind at ease by understanding what the future looks like in terms of what steps will follow in terms of the candidate evaluation picture and the hiring process. In addition, these questions will help you understand what the timetable will look like.

• What does the selection process typically look like?
• What are the next steps in the candidate selection process look like?
• What other things should I know about the candidate evaluation process?
• How long does the candidate selection process typically take?
• Is there anything that you are concerned about in terms of my background, skills, or experience as it relates to this role and my potential fit?
• Would you like to see additional experience to help you make an easier decision as it relates to my consideration for the position?
• Is there anything else I can do to help you with the candidate selection process?
• When can I expect to hear about my status in the evaluation process?
• How do I compare to other candidates who have interviewed for this role?
• What haven’t I asked that other candidates typically ask?
• When do you expect to make a decision?
• Who will make the final hiring decision?
• Who should I stay in touch with as things move forward?
• How should I follow up to check on the status of the job?
• Will I hear back from you?

Daily Routine or Responsibility Questions to Ask in an Interview

These questions are designed to help provide a little bit more insight as to what you will be doing throughout the day. We’ve all been in a scenario where it can feel like we applied to one job, and then it turns out the job we were hired for was something completely different. Make sure that the answers that the interviewer provides is consistent with what you assumed about the role when you applied to it. This way, you won’t get caught off-guard when you eventually get hired and then begin working.

• What are the primary responsibilities or tasks involved with the position?
• What can you tell me about the job that wasn’t in the job description?
• What is the key to succeeding in this role?
• Is overtime expected with this role?
• Should I expect to travel in this role?
• What does it look like for the busiest time in the role?
• What does the slowest time look like for this role?
• What does my day to day routine look like in this role?
• Why is this position available?
• What is a typical work week like?
• What prompted you to consider me for this position?
• How long has this position been open for?
• What traits does the perfect candidate possess for this role?
• What is the work schedule like for this role?
• What are some challenges I should expect to face in this role?
• How long did the previous person hold this role?
• What is the most immediate project or task I should expect to be assigned to if I’m hired for the position?
• Do you expect my role to change in the future?

Career Growth Opportunity Questions to Ask in an Interview

Another important question that you should ask relates to the career growth opportunities that you will have in your future job if you’re selected. For instance, what are the opportunties that you might be exposed to in terms of potential education, training, upward mobility, and more. Does the company focus on keeping everyone in their roles, or do they make it a point to help individuals progress and get promoted throughout their time with the company?

Understanding what the company focuses on is important to determine whether or not you will be stuck in a position for years, or if your hard work will ultimately lead to you getting promoted and considered for different growth opportunities down the road.

• Does the company provide for any education scholarships or education compensation?
• Does the company provide free training or skill development courses?
• Does the company promote from within?
• Does the company encourage growth?
• What are my chances for moving upward
• What type of mentor system is in place?
• What kind of advancement opportunities are available?
• How do managers promote employee success?

Summary

Don't let fear or your nerves to get the best of you when it comes to the interviewing process. These are just a few of the questions to ask in an interview and recruiters typically don't mind answering them. One way to remember some of these questions when you’re getting ready to go into your interview is to write them down and look back at them as the interview is winding down so you can remember. This will once again highlight how you’ve spent extra time doing your research and getting ready for the interview. Don't be afraid to add more questions you may have to this list and make note of the important details of their answers.

Hiring managers want to hear from you and by asking questions that pertain to the job, the company, and/or their hiring process, you show you have a more vested interested in the position than many other candidates may have.

If you'd like to learn more about some of the best interview practices, or learn what you should do to get ready for your upcoming interview, check out our comprehensive Interview Guide.

Good luck at your next one!

( Article / Content Updated 2019 )