The interview for that manufacturing opening seems to have gone very well. You had prepared by researching the company and by practicing your answers to the questions you anticipated the interviewer would ask.

Now that the interview is winding down, the hiring manager asks you one last thing: “Do you have any questions for me?” Of course, there are many questions you might want to ask—some of them you should save for a later time and some of them you should never ask.

But here are some that will not only satisfy your curiosity about the company but will also show the interviewer that you care enough to ask questions that are well thought out and relevant.

“What is it that you enjoy most about working here?”

If the person conducting the interview stumbles over the answer to this question, it might send up a red flag. You might be thinking that if this is the person you’ll be working under and he or she is not happy, it could very well portend an unhappy working environment for you.

However, by phrasing the question to ask about the positive aspects of the job, you can find out which parts of the job the interviewer values and make a decision based on balanced feedback.

 “Can you describe a typical workday for someone working in this role?”

Most job postings will tell you which skills and experiences are necessary for the job opening, but they are vague at best on what a workday will be like for you. Unless this is a new position, the interviewer should be able to describe what a day in a manufacturing job should look like. If it can’t be described, you might be in for a rocky adjustment period.

“How does the company manage conflict?”

If the interviewer is going to be your boss, you will get the most thorough and useful answer to this question. But no matter who interviews you, you will get insight into the organization’s philosophy on conflict resolution. You may get examples of actual incidents and how the company dealt with them.

 “How will your company be growing or changing in the next five years?”

The answer to this one should give you some insight into how those who work here feel about the direction in which the company is heading. If the hiring manager feels good about future developments, you’ll hear it in the response. However, if the interviewer is finding it hard to come up with something positive, it could mean the company’s future is unstable, unknown, or not completely positive.

 “Do you have concerns that are preventing me from being your top candidate?”

This question gives the interviewer a chance to ask any follow-up questions of you that may have come to mind. Asking this question also shows you are confident that you can assuage any concerns and wish to make sure that all questions and concerns about you have been addressed.

Need more help with your interview?

Give us a call! We are HCR Personnel Solutions, a leading manufacturing recruitment agency in Canada that recruits top professionals for exceptional career opportunities. We’re here to do what it takes to get you into your next manufacturing job.