Almost every job interview ends with the same five words, whether it is for a graduate job, internship or a summer vacation program.

You will read and hear from many experts, even employers themselves, that this is your last chance to prove yourself - an opportunity to show that you have taken an interest and that it is best to have a few questions prepared. And while this is true to a certain extent, it pressures student like yourself into fabricating questions in an effort to impress the interviewer. However, this is an opportunity to get as much detail about the company, culture, employees and position as possible so make the most of it!

In order to truly take advantage of an interview, you must also re-think the process. Instead of waiting for the end of the interview to ask questions, get your questions out during the conversation. Not only does it promote you as a self-starter, it also separates you from the norm because let’s face it, everyone prepares questions to be asked at the end.

An important thing to note here as well would be to avoid asking too many questions – you don’t want to begin interviewing the interviewer! Our recommendation is to ask two during the interview, and an additional two at the end.

Questions that will give you the best insight about the role you’re headed into include:

What do you really enjoy about working here?

It’s very difficult to assess the type of culture a company offers before you've actually experienced it, so the best way to gain an understanding is to find out why your interviewer - and perhaps the rest of the employees – like to work there.

Is this a newly created role?

This is a fantastic question to ask as it is very important to know whether your position was a newly created role or a result of high turnover. The last thing you want to hear after being hired is that you’re the fifth person in three months to have been hired for that particular role.

This question can potentially lead to more questions and prove to be the most beneficial exchange of information you have in the interview. Follow up questions could include, “If you could change one thing about the employee who left the role, what would it be?”

What are your goals for the company in the next year?

This question will allow you to understand where you fit into the company, what your responsibilities will include and most importantly, what the company values giving a strong indication of whether it is a good place to work.

What would my typical day look like?

The response to this question will provide you with a fairly clear indication of what is expected of you on a daily basis, whether the company will experience peaks and troughs with workload and whether the kind of work involved aligns with your career interests in the long term.

So use these questions to gain as much insight into the company as you can because the truth of the matter is, this is an opportunity for you to learn as much about the company as it is for them to learn about you.

In your opinion, which questions have you asked or do you think would provide you great insight into the company and job opportunity?