Typical Day

• A job description includes a general overview of a particular position, but in order to find out what a job really entails you should ask the the interviewer to describe a typical day on the job. As the interviewer begins to describe your daily responsibilities, you should ask follow-up questions related to anything the interviewer mentions that you not see listed on the job description. Try to ask open-ended questions that require a full explanation rather than a one-word answer, but do not regurgitate information already covered during the interview.
  
  

Ask About the Company

• You should do some research on a company before you attend an interview, as that shows the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in working for the firm. Ask a few questions related to information you read about the company. If you saw on the news that the company plans to expand, ask what impact the expansion plans will have on the firm and the position that you are applying for. Also ask questions about the company culture as a whole and mention anything positive that you have read about the company.
  
  

Challenges

• Ask the interviewer about the biggest challenges faced by anyone holding the position you are applying for. Additionally, you should ask about the challenges faced by the department as a whole. You should ask questions about teamwork to show the interviewer that you are a team player, but also to discover for yourself if the company fosters team work or encourages individuals to work in isolation. You could also ask questions related to the challenges faced by the industry as a whole.
  
  

Advancement

• You should find out during your interview how the company will assess your job performance and who will conduct your reviews. Ask about opportunities for advancement but do not ask about the salary range unless the interviewer brings that topic up, as salary negotiations usually do not occur until after the interview.
  
  You should think of a number of question to ask before you go into the interview, but you should limit your questions to four or five unless the interviewer encourages you to ask more. Do not ask questions that the company's website or the job posting could answer for you.