As an employer, you know the routine when it comes to job interviews. You ask the prospective employee about their qualifications and try to determine their strengths and weaknesses to figure out if they’re the best person for the job. If it’s going well, you have a good dialogue going back and forth. Then comes the question that many interviewees don’t do much preparation for:”Do you have any questions for us?”

Your best candidates will not shrug off this part of the interview but will have thoughtful, relevant questions. This is their opportunity to stand out among their peers. It can also give both parties a better vision of what it would be like for them to work for you. Here are five things that your strongest candidates may ask:

1. What do you expect me to accomplish in the first weeks and months?
   This question indicates that the applicant is ready to hit the ground running. While they may spend a lot of time during the introductory period learning to know the ropes, they’ll want to be a contributing member of the team as soon as possible.
2. What do your top performers have in common? 
   By asking this, the candidate shows that they want to do their job well. They also want to know if they are going to be a good fit for the position and can meet the highest demands.
3. What drives your company’s results?  
   This type of question about what makes your company tick means that the job applicantwants to contribute to the big picture. They not only want to perform well in their position; they want to be a part of the company’s success.
4. What do the employees here like to do in their free time? 
   While it might not seem relevant to the position, this question demonstrates that the job candidate wants to feel invested if they take the position. They want to be friends with their coworkers, to fit in and work as part of a team. This type of attitude can be a huge benefit to your workplace environment.
5. How is the company going to adjust to change? 
   You’re aware of many the challenges your business is going to face in the next year, the next five years and beyond as the industry evolves. If there’s a competitor opening up down the street or if your company has to adjust some of its policies under new government regulations, a good candidate wants to know that they have job security with you in the foreseeable future.

In sum, your best applicants are going to be forward thinking about the way you think and the way your company operates. They will want to get a good vision about how they are going to fit into your plans.

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