YOU MUST ASK QUESTIONS!!

 “Any questions for us?” is not small talk. It tests your fit and your intelligence.

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟮–𝟯 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀).

I always recommend having a pad of paper in front of you so that you can take notes during your interview, as you would in a meeting. This allows you to already plan some questions you might want to ask and have them on the pad to get you through the initial nervousness phase.

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: "Are there any systems, processes, or areas where you know the team needs improvement but hasn't had the bandwidth to address yet?" "How is the company preparing for [relevant industry trend, regulatory change, or economic factor]? What role will finance play in that transition?"  

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵:
"What would you say differentiates your top performers from average ones in finance roles here?"

"What does the career trajectory look like for high performers in this role? Can you tell me about someone who started in a similar position?"
"How does the team balance the tension between speed and accuracy when deadlines are tight?"

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂: "If I were to excel in this role and we're sitting here a year from now celebrating, what would I have accomplished?" 

When they answer, other questions may come to mind that you want to ask. Make sure to jot down a 1-2 word reminder. Don't write a book, but just a couple words or phrases to keep it fresh in your mind.

No matter what, you must have questions to ask. Otherwise, you look like you can't think for yourself, and you look disinterested in the job. 

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