Congratulations on being part of the 20 percent of job applicants invited to a job interview! This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the position and to learn more about the company and role to make an informed decision if you receive a job offer. Some questions will form naturally during the conversation with the interviewer(s), but it’s best to prepare a list beforehand.

Questions about the company

47 percent of candidates do not receive a job offer because they didn’t spend time researching the company and showed up to the interview without a firm grasp of its products or services and the position. Before the interview, research the company, the industry, and the role you applied for, and craft tailored questions.

Related: After Talking to a Recruiter, Take These Four Steps

Related: Video Interview Dos and Don’ts

Asking questions about the position during an interview can demonstrate your interest in the role, that you take the opportunity seriously, and have thought through what the job entails. By asking questions about the position, you can also gain insights into the company’s expectations for the role, including its specific goals, priorities, and associated challenges. It’s also a way to understand the stability of the organization and the security of the role you are interviewing for.

Questions about the work environment

Understanding the work environment can help you gain insight into the company culture, team dynamics, communication and feedback style, and work-life balance. Asking questions about the company’s work environment will assist you in envisioning what it would be like to work there.

Questions about training and professional development

Questions about training and professional development demonstrate your commitment to skill development and growth. Use these questions to learn the company’s approach to learning and development and the resources and support available to employees to ensure they align with your learning style and career goals.

Questions about the interviewer

Asking the interviewer about their own experiences with the organization and their perspective on the position will provide valuable information about the company culture, the challenges and opportunities, and what working there is like. However, avoid asking personal questions.

Questions about the team

Inquiring about the team’s composition, size, roles, strengths and challenges, and which departments they work closely with will help you determine whether you would fit in and what you will bring to the group. This shows you are committed to building strong working relationships and being a collaborative team member.

Questions about the next steps in the hiring process

Asking questions about the next steps in a job interview will help to clarify the hiring process, demonstrate interest, plan your follow-up, prepare for future interviews, and set expectations for yourself and the company.

Related: 7 Questions to Ask in a Final Interview

Check out Acara’s interview guide for a list of questions to ask to impress your audience and ensure the position aligns with your career goals. We have also included questions to avoid asking.