3 Memorable Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview

You’ve landed an interview at a company you’re interested in after putting in all the hard work into your application—nice! Congratulations on making it to the next step! While some sort of celebration is most definitely in order, the process isn’t over quite yet because it’s now time to really nail the interview and show the people you spoke with why you’re a perfect fit for this position. 

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There are countless tricks and tips out there that you can find on how to perform well in an interview, but for this particular piece, I would like to focus on a specific portion that may not receive lots of attention and nevertheless is something every interviewer asks:

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“Do you have any questions for me?” 

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While this is probably not the most important part of an interview, it is still a perfect opportunity to show that you’ve done your homework and to create a lasting impression on the interviewer after the conversation ends. 

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Why Should I Ask Questions?

Oftentimes, people feel more obligated to be prepared to answer questions rather than ask them in an interview. But remember that while the company is interviewing you, you are also interviewing the company! It is your duty to make sure that the company is truly a good fit for your career and personality. Asking questions can help you uncover bits of the company’s culture and what the office dynamic would be like, making it easier to determine whether you would honestly enjoy working there. 

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Additionally, asking more specific questions about the company and their previous work is a great way to show that you’re invested in learning more about who they are. Hiring managers want employees who are passionate about their careers, and coming up with questions that are geared towards the company specifically makes you stand out as a candidate because it shows you’re genuinely curious about them and that you’re not halfheartedly going through the process because you simply want a job. 

3 Memorable Questions to Ask as a UX Designer 

So you might be thinking, “Well, Brian, it’s good to know that I should be asking questions during an interview, but I don’t know where to begin!” No worries, I gotchu! Here are a few sample questions that I think UX Designers could ask at the end of every interview at any company:

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1. For the UX Designers at your company, what defines success in their work?
   The reason why I believe this is a good question to ask is because you want to know if the company you’re interviewing for has a deeper understanding of what UX design encompasses beyond “just showing up and pushing out designs.” Ideally, you’ll work at a place that allows you to grow in your skillset and provide you the means to determine whether your designs were successful or not. The metrics may vary (revenue, clicks, downloads, etc.), but understanding what success is at the company will give you a better picture of the nature of the job, and hopefully gives you exposure into the field of using data in design to measure effectiveness in accomplishing goals.
   
   
2. As a UX Designer, how would I be integrated with the rest of the team?
   Although company culture might be a buzzword that is starting to form negative connotations, it’s still a good idea to ask about what your day-to-day would look like. Are you working solo most of the time? Working with designers? Or working cross-functionally with developers and clients? Who does the design team report to? The information you gain from this question will assist you in preparing for how you’ll communicate with the colleagues you’ll interact with regularly and give you some notion on where design is in the company’s hierarchy.
   
   
3. What are the opportunities for growth as a designer in your company?
   If you’re as career-driven as I am, you would want to land a position that gives you the opportunities to grow into more senior positions as a designer. You wouldn’t want to be pigeon-holed into one role indefinitely without chances of advancing into higher levels, right? Ask the interviewer about how they can help you grow as a UX designer, and what they are looking for at each level of seniority. Your continual maturation is just as important as you contributing to the company’s success!

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While these questions are more high-level and can be asked at any interview, I’d still encourage you to ask some questions that are more company-specific. For example, you can bring up a previous project of theirs and ask about their process and what the overall experience was like working on that particular initiative. This is a great way to start developing an understanding for how they handle projects design-wise!

Take Charge By Planning Ahead

Asking questions about the company’s vision for design and about the role you’ve applied for can provide insight on whether the position would align with your goals and can aid you in getting into the right mindset on expectations within the workplace. Moreover, it can show that you are serious about the job and assure the interviewers that you’re really interested in working with them. I hope this helps you all in your journeys, and never hesitate to learn more about what you’re potentially getting yourself into!