Are you stumped as to what questions to ask during an interview? See what our firm administrator has to say about what questions she likes to hear from candidates.

When prepping for a job interview, you generally spend the most focus on anticipating what questions will be asked and formulating your answers; however, a key signal to interviewers of your potential to be a good employee is your response to a seemingly off-hand question that generally falls at the end of the conversation: do you have any questions for us? We sat down with Denise Coon, firm administrator for Lewis & Knopf, to discuss what she likes to hear from interviewees.

What do you like about working at the firm? What is the company culture or work environment like?

These question demonstrates your desire to be able to view yourself in the job, and communicate to the interviewer your excitement about the job opportunity. Knowing more about a workplace can help you discern whether you would be a good fit for the organization.

What is the availability of upward mobility within the firm? What does it take to become a partner?

Employers value long-term dedication, and this question signals your willingness to go all-in at their company. Conveying your desire for lasting commitment makes you a more-attractive candidate for the job.

How can I excel at your firm?

This open-ended question does a good job of communicating an eagerness that goes beyond just landing a job spot. It can also be helpful to you in fleshing out your idea of what the job will involve beyond just the given job description.

Questions that show that you did some research on the firm.

Interviewers like to see that you’ve done your homework on their organization in preparation for your talk with them. Asking questions that demonstrate a knowledge of their company communicates foresight, initiative, and inquisitiveness, all valuable attributes in an employee.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, when preparing for an interview it is just as important to come up with questions for your interviewers as to anticipate what they will ask you. Proper preparation in this area allows you to choose what signals you would like to send to your interviewer, be it your eagerness, your preparation, your desire for a long-term commitment, or all of the above!