Do You Have Any Questions for Me? 13 Questions to Ask During Your Next Interview

We’ve all been there before… you’ve landed an interview for a job that you’re really excited about. You’re meeting with the CEO to discuss their job opening for an Executive Business Partner. The interview is going really well. And then the CEO asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” 

And your mind goes blank. 

Thankfully, you’ve prepared ahead of time and can reference your notes. I mean, you are a Force Multiplier after all. 😉

But, if you are preparing for an interview for the first time in a while, just want a refresher, or want to make sure you’re really ready for the question about questions, read on. 

Best Practices for Preparing Questions for Your Job Interview 

When interviewing for a Force Multiplier position, asking thoughtful, strategic questions is crucial. Remember, you are interviewing the CEO, the Hiring Manager, the leadership team, the company, etc. just as much as they are interviewing you. You want to make sure that the organization, and the leader, that you’re going to work with aligns with your values and goals. The right fit, especially for a leader and Force Multiplier, is imperative for career satisfaction and long-term success. 

As you are preparing for your first (or third) round of interviews, keep the following points in mind:

Do You Research – Do your research. And, in my opinion, the more, the better. Do a deep dive into the company’s history, learn about the CEO and/or founder and leadership team. What can you find out about former Executive Assistants? What is the company’s mission and vision? Has the company (or key employees) been in the news lately? If so, what for? If they are publicly traded, take a look at the financial reports. Read whatever annual report, book written by an Exec, or company newsletter you can get your hands on. If key team members (especially any of those who you will be interviewing with) have been interviewed recently or appeared on podcasts – listen. What have been the major successes, failures, or challenges over the past five years? What are their plans for the future? Context is everything. Find out as much as you can, so you can position yourself as the missing piece of the puzzle, or, at the very least, so you’re not asking questions that a quick Google could have answered for you. 

Understand Your Audience – If at all possible, know who you are interviewing with ahead of time. Is the first interview with a recruiter? The second interview with the VP of People Operations, and the third with the CEO that you are going to support? Great. Gather as much information on who you are meeting with and choose questions that make sense for your audience. Save the salary and benefits question for the recruiter or HR team. Use your time wisely with the Executives you’re meeting with. Choose the questions for each interviewer that align with their area of expertise, while making sure you get your questions answers about vision and values alignment (particularly with the Executive that you would be working with directly). 

Tailor Your Questions to the Role – As you know, every Executive Assistant or Chief of Staff role is just a bit different, because those roles are supporting humans! So, take care to tailor your questions to the specific job. One Executive Assistant role may be scoped for more project management, while another Executive Business Partner role involves acting as the CEOs proxy and communications manager. Make sure you understand these nuances and adjust your questions accordingly. 

Stay Curious and Engaged – Successful Force Multipliers are adaptable. Make sure you are listening to the responses and can follow-up with another question or by sharing a specific area of your experience that would help them solve their challenges or enhance workflow. Most importantly, listen well so that you can pivot if the conversation ends up going in a different direction. But, don’t be afraid to bring the conversation back to your question if it still hasn’t been answered. If it’s important to you in order to make a decision whether or not the Executive or company is the right fit for you, then make sure you get that question answered! 

Be Prepared – Bottom line, preparation is key to increase confidence during a job interview. You want to have several questions (I would recommend at least five) ready to show that you’ve thought deeply about the role, the company, and how you fit. This approach shows strategic thinking, an interest in leadership and company dynamics, and a focus on how you can add value. 

13 Questions to Ask During Your Next Interview

Here are some key questions and suggestions for how to approach the “Do you have any questions for me?” part of the interview. 

No need to ask all 13 of these questions. Remember, you want to choose the ones that make the most sense for the position you’re applying for, the round of interview you’re on, and who you’re meeting with.

1. Have you had an Executive Business Partner/Chief of Staff before? You will likely already know the answer to this question, so you could also ask a rhetorical question… “You’ve had/haven’t had an Executive Assistant before, correct?

• Why ask: You want to start a conversation about their experience working with an EA or Chief of Staff and find out what has worked and what hasn’t. There could be some red flags here. Or, you may find out that they are going to be a great business partner!
• Follow up: If they answer yes, ask, “What worked really well? What do you wish they had done differently? What challenges did you have in that partnership?” If no, “What would this individual need to take off your plate in the first 30 days (60 days, 90 days) to provide a return on your investment?” You could also list the top 5 qualities the job ad says they are looking for, and then ask, “Which one of those is most important to you in your next Chief of Staff?” The point here is to engage in a conversation about their previous experience with a Force Multiplier. It also gives you the opportunity to share how you’ve overcome the challenges they’ve mentioned, or some of the best practices you implemented in your previous roles to alleviate stress, save time or money, or fulfill the top quality they are looking for.

2. What is currently keeping you up at night?

• Why ask: One, you want to see how open and honest they are. Two, this cuts to the chase and should give you an indication of their major personal or professional pain points. It also shows your willingness to ask more difficult questions, engage in thoughtful conversation, and be proactive in solving problems.
• Follow-up: You can mention how you’ve helped solve their challenge before. Or, what you will be able to take off their plate to allow them to focus more time and energy on solving the problem themselves. You can also follow-up with additional questions like, “Who is helping you with that challenge right now?” or “How would this role be able to help?” or “What needs to change in your schedule to allow you more time to focus on this issue?”

3. What does a successful Executive/Executive Assistant strategic business partnership look like to you?

• Why ask: This shows your interest in partnership, in being successful, and creating a win-win for you and your employer. It will also tell you whether or not their version of a partnership aligns with your vision. 

• Follow-up: Share an example of how your experience aligns with their vision. You can also share your vision for a successful strategic business partnership and why a strong partnership benefits them and the organization.

4. How can I be guaranteed to be involved in projects that are critical to the strategic future of the organization?

• Why ask: This shows your interest in being a team player in helping execute the long-term vision. It also demonstrates your desire and willingness to do the work necessary to be tapped for strategic projects.  

• Follow-up: Give some examples of special projects or value-add work you’ve done in the past that may have been out of your normal scope of work. Share your experience working on strategic initiatives and the result you achieved. 

5. What does it take to be successful here?

• Why ask: You’re likely talking to individuals who are at least somewhat successful in the organization. They will likely share what worked for them to get to the position they are in. Take notes! 

• Follow-up: Really listen here and pull out anything in particular that plays to your past experience and strengths. Were there certain people or projects that stand out? Can you dig in to the role an Executive Business Partner played in that success in the past and outline how you could help even more in the future?

6. What are the top priorities for this role over the next 6-12 months?

• Why ask: This demonstrates your interest in long-term planning and understanding how you can contribute strategically. 

• Follow-up: You can mention how your past experience aligns with their top priorities, or share an example of a similar situation you’ve successfully navigated.

7. What are the current pain points or challenges in the organization, and how will this role be involved in addressing them?

• Why ask: This shows you are proactive and focused on solving problems. While similar to the “What keeps you up at night?” question, this is more focused on digging into perhaps more holistic company challenges. 

• Follow-up: You can mention how you’ve dealt with similar challenges in the past and how you’re prepared to do the same here.

8. What type of access to email, communication, meetings, and collaboration with key stakeholders does the Executive Business Partner have?

• Why ask: Understanding how an Executive Assistant is valued in an organization is critical. While access isn’t the only indicator of how EAs are viewed, it is a good starting point for a more in-depth conversation.  

• Follow up: If you don’t think the answer aligns with the access you know you need to get your job done at a high level, ask, “How open to adjusting this access are you and the rest of the team?” Or, you could simply ask, “Why? Why do Executive Assistants have limited access? Do you see this changing?” You can then explain your philosophy around access and give examples of how it’s benefited your previous Executives and organizations.

9. How do you measure success for this role over the short and long term?

• Why ask: Asking about success criteria shows you’re focused on outcomes and results. It indicates that you understand the importance of performance metrics and goal alignment. 

• Follow up: Follow up by discussing how you’ve previously met or exceeded expectations in a similar role, or how you typically approach setting and achieving goals.

10. How does the organization prioritize and balance short-term needs with long-term strategic goals?

• Why ask: This question showcases your understanding of the balance between immediate deliverables and strategic vision, a key trait of a strategic thinker. This is especially important because Executive Assistants are often relegated to “tactical” work, and kept out of strategic conversations. Which is where they can often add the most value! By asking about the long-term strategic goals, you’re already setting the stage for those conversations in the future. 

• Follow up: Reference specific examples where you’ve successfully managed both short-term projects and long-term initiatives. Demonstrate how you can contribute to achieving both types of goals.

11. How does the company foster leadership development, and what opportunities are there for growth in this role?

• Why ask: This question shows you are proactive about your own leadership development and highlights your long-term commitment to the company. Executive Assistants are leaders! And, you want to grow your career. Make sure they know that from the beginning. 

• Follow up: Mention any leadership programs or professional development experiences you’ve participated in, and express your interest in contributing to a leadership culture within the organization.

12. What excites you most about the future of the company, and how do you see this role contributing to that vision?

• Why ask: This question is forward-looking and positive. It signals that you’re thinking about the long-term and how you can be part of the company’s future success. It also allows the interviewer to end on an optimistic note about the company’s direction.

• Follow up: Share your enthusiasm about their vision, give specific examples of how you can help fulfill that vision, and how your values and beliefs align with what they are doing.

13. Is there anything else I haven’t asked about that you think is important for me to know?

• Why ask: This question shows humility and curiosity. It signals that you’re open to learning more and genuinely want to understand the full scope of the role and expectations. It also gives the interviewer a chance to cover anything they may have missed or clarify anything further.

• Follow up: Listen carefully. Provide examples of your past success if applicable. Answer their question or address their reservations, if any. Close your response by emphasizing your interest in the company, the position and your confidence in your ability to succeed in the role.

These questions are designed to leave the interviewer with a positive impression of your professionalism, confidence, and genuine interest in the role. By asking the right questions, you position yourself as a proactive, strategic thinker who is not only prepared to excel in the role but also contribute to the organization’s long-term success. They also invite further dialogue, allowing you to clear up any doubts or gain valuable insight into the company and position.

Bottom line, interviews are a two-way street. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know! 

What questions do you like to ask a prospective employer during the job interview? What other questions would you add to the above list? 

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