You answered all of the interview questions with minimal challenges, you should be very proud. The interview, however, is not over yet. At the end of the interview, you will be given the opportunity to ask the interviewer questions concerning the job or the company. Here is your opportunity to do a couple of things. First, is to find out more about the company. Second, is to impress the interviewer with your knowledge.

Why would you want to ask questions? You may be thinking that it’s easier to politely decline to ask any questions. It is neither polite nor smart to not ask a single question. Not asking questions shows a lack of interest in the company, the interviewer and your future. Even if you have researched the company before the interview, use the information to ask questions.

This should not be confused with the time to ask about salary or vacation packages, that will come later. You are planning on spending the foreseeable future with the organization; are you interested in the company culture? Consider these potential questions.

1. “This position seems like the perfect fit for me. I’m curious as to what happened to the last person who held this position.”
Listen carefully to the response. If the last few people were promoted, this indicates that the company has a strong policy of promotion from within. If the last employee resigned (no reason given, or was fired because they were not a “fit”, politely ask what made it “not a fit.” If the interviewer hesitates, leave the answer unspoken, it should speak volumes to you.

2. What are the expectations of the selected person within the first 90 days to 6 months?
This question shows that you are a planner and thinking forward. This also affords you the opportunity to discover if the position is a fit for you. If the planned project seems outrageous, you may really want to think about accepting any job offer.

3. What happens next?
This is your final step. You should never walk out of an interview not knowing the interview process. Are there more interviews or if this is the final step? Not asking what happens next shows the interviewer you don’t care what happens next.

You don’t need to ask a lot of questions. Have two or three written down to ask at the end of every interview. A word of caution, it is possible to make the questions sound too routine so be sure the questions vary.

Are you are still wondering why it’s important to ask questions at the end of your interview? The answer is easy. An interviewer has just spent from 30 minutes to a couple of hours asking you questions. Asking questions in return shows that you are interested in the position and paid attention to the conversation. This moment will be the last impression you will leave. Make it a good one.

101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions