“What questions do you have for me” in Job Interview

Imagine your first date, or maybe the second one. Let’s say, it’s a good one overall — promising and positive; you discover each other, start exchanging your life stories. Imagine then your potential girlfriend (or boyfriend) asking you, as you are about to part: Do you have any questions for me?

Well, that’d be really awkward.

Imagine coming up with these stupid questions. What expectations do you have of me? How can I be a really good partner to you? Could you tell me about your typical weekend schedule? Could you tell me about the culture in your family?

I know this analogy is questionable but do you see what I mean? When interviewing for a job I feel like Thanks for today’s date! It was good. I learned some things. I want to learn more. Can we plan our next date (assuming there will be “next” at all!)

For two decades — since the very start of my career — I’ve struggled with this part of a job interview.

You’d think it should be simple. It’s not one of those bizarre “you-get-asked-this-when-interviewing-for-Google” questions when someone challenges you on the spot with a tricky puzzle. I actually had one of those when I was interviewing for Morgan Stanley’s investment banking back in 2002. The guy was nice and that interview had gone in a pretty trivial manner but at the end of it, he threw this at me: “The time is 3.15 pm. What’s the angle between the hour and minute hands?” My immediate reaction was zero, but it’s…