How to answer “Do you have any questions for us?”
It’s the end of Jordan’s interview for a weekend shop assistant job. Now Jordan gets to ask a question. Listen for what a new team member would learn and who would help.
Ask about training
The interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for us?”
Jordan’s model question
“Yes, thank you. What training do new team members receive?”
Hear how the conversation continues
Listen to the exchange. Notice how Jordan uses the interviewer’s reply to choose a follow-up question.
Read the conversation
Interviewer · Do you have any questions for us?
Jordan · Yes, thank you. What training do new team members receive?
Interviewer · For this role, new starters learn the shop routines with an experienced colleague.
Jordan · That sounds helpful. What would I learn on my first shift?
Interviewer · On your first shift, your colleague would show you where we keep the products.
Jordan · Thank you. That gives me a better idea of how I’d get started.
Choose a question you want answered
- Ask for one detail
- “What training do new team members receive?” invites the interviewer to describe the training. “Do you offer training?” can be answered with just “yes”.
- Build on what you hear
- Jordan already knows an experienced colleague will help. Asking about the first shift gives the interviewer something new to explain.
- If they’ve already covered training
- “You mentioned that I’d learn alongside a colleague. How long do new starters usually work alongside them?” If you have the information you need, you can also say, “You’ve answered my questions about training. Thank you.”
Check your understanding
Three questions. Choose an answer to see the explanation. You can replay the conversation or read it above.
1. You want the interviewer to describe the training. What could you ask?
“What training do new team members receive?”
Correct. “What training” invites a description of what new team members learn.
“Do new team members receive training?”
Try again. This checks whether training exists. Asking “what training” invites the interviewer to describe it.
“When will I hear about the next interview?”
Try again. This asks about the hiring process. Jordan wants to know about learning the job after starting.
2. Who would help Jordan learn the shop routines?
A customer who visits the shop regularly.
Try again. The interviewer describes support from someone on the team.
Another person starting their first shift.
Try again. Listen for “experienced”. The person guiding Jordan already knows the routines.
An experienced colleague.
Correct. The interviewer says new starters learn the routines with an experienced colleague.
3. In a hotel interview, you hear, “On your first day, you’ll watch an experienced receptionist check guests in.” Which follow-up helps you find out when you will try it yourself?
“Who will I watch on my first day?”
Try again. You already know you’ll watch an experienced receptionist. You still need to ask about your first turn.
“When would I get to check in a guest with someone there to guide me?”
Correct. This moves from watching to doing. It asks when you can practise with support.
“What time do guests usually arrive?”
Try again. This asks about the guests’ schedule. Ask when you could practise checking someone in.
Try your own question (optional)
Choose a task you’d want help learning in a new job. Ask “How would I learn to …?” For a café role, you might ask, “How would I learn to use the coffee machine?” Say your question aloud, then pause to give the interviewer a turn.